30 July 1872

Latitude 20.58S.longitude 174.34W. Course S36W. Wind southerly force 1 becoming calm and light airs. Under steam.

0900. Altered course to SW and sighted the Island of Eua at 0930.

Noon. Euaigee Island S62W 19 miles.

1400. . Sighted Tongatabu.

1545. Took in pilot (Native). 1740. Anchored off Nakalofa, (Nukualofa) Tongatabu in 12 ½ fathoms. Anchor bearings Church SSW. Pomgimode E ¾ N.

Remarks

We came up through the eastern passage arriving at the small port with the rock (sunken) where boarded by the pilot who took us up the eastern side of rock. Three whaling ships were at anchor who kept their boats employed in the offing during the day looking for whales in which occupation they seemed to be successful. The High waters Fl and Ch appeared to be later than that given in the charts and that given by Mr Duncan of HMS Zebra seemed to be nearer the mark – viz 8 hours. The Wesleyan Church is on the highest part of the island and the flag staff and the king’s house below it to the eastward.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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