26 September 1897

At sea. Trincomalee to Colombo. Course S28E at 7.5 knots. Wind south force 2. Overcast sky and slight swell. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 30.03 at 0800 before falling to 29.99 at 1600 and finishing at 30.04 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0015. Altered course to S8E. -130. Sounded in 60 fathoms. 0200. Exercised Sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0330. Sounded in 60 fathoms. 0410. Altered course to S22W at 8 knots. 0700. Altered course to S34W. Wind SW force 3 to 4. 0830. Altered course to SW. 0918. Altered course WSW. 1000. Divisions. Performed Divine Service. 11. Sighted lighthouse N74W. 1118. Altered course to W by S. Noon. Wind WSW force 4 to 6. Overcast gloomy weather. Position 6.4N 81.33E. 1600. Wind west force 3 to 4 with moderate sea. 1700. Quarters. 1730. Sighted Dondra Head Lighthouse N86W. 1800. Altered course to W by S ½ S. 1900. Dondra Lighthouse abeam.

Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority

Altered course to N78W. 2220. Galle Lighthouse abeam.

Located in: Galle Dutch Fort Address: Galle 80000, Sri Lanka Height: 26 m Opened: 1848 Range: 87,044 m

Exercised Seaboat crews. 2300. Altered course to N51W. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 23 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority

1806-1816

This is the account of the first vessel named HMS Cossack, a title that would be passed on to five later ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh.

READ MORE

1854-1875

The second Cossack was originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles. However, when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, Russia sold the vessels to the Hamburg trading firm Henry Mersk & Co.

READ MORE

1886-1905

This account covers the third vessel named HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886 and in service until 1905, she spent the majority of her career in the Far East, calling at India, Aden, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and other ports.

READ MORE

1907-1919

The fourth HMS Cossack received the first Battle Honour for participating in operations along the Belgian coast from 17 October to 8 November 1914. This section contains copies of the original construction contract and detailed plans showing her launch, deck arrangements, and machinery.

READ MORE

1938-1941

Credited with battle honours including Baltic 1855, Witu 1890, Dover Patrol 1914–1919, Narvik 1940, Norway 1940, Atlantic 1940–1941, the Bismarck Action 1941, and the Malta Convoys 1941, the HMS Cossack in service from 1938 to 1941 was a formidable presence.

READ MORE

1944-1960

During Warship Week in February 1942, the town of Esher raised £1,192,211, contributing to the construction of the warship HMS Cossack. The funds were collected by the public depositing money into a rubber-type float in a pool. Remarkably, the surplus was enough to fund a submarine as well. The story continues.

READ MORE