31 January 1890

At sea between Zanzibar and Mozambique. Course NE by ½ N at 8.2 knots. Wind NE force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 20.18 inches falling to 30.14 at 0800 before rising to 30.15 at noon then falling to 30.04 at 1600 and finishing at 30.07 inches at midnight 0200. Altered course to NNE. Reduced to 40 revolutions.

0400. Altered course to East
0500. Altered course to West a 3.8 knots.
0530. Observed land ahead.
0600. Altered course to SW by S.
0740. Observed HMS Brisk to starboard.
0850. Increased to 85 revolutions and altered course to SW.
0910. Observed Squadron to starboard. Course as required.
0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers.
1000. Exercised at General Quarters. Passed up shell.
1050. Stopped and communicated with flag.
1130. First division proceeded into Mozambique. Noon. Wind NE force 3. HMS Pigeon proceed in.
1245. Second Division proceeded in . 1310. Proceeded in to Port Reitz.

 

1450. Stopped and came to with broken bottom in 16 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Let fires die out in 3 boilers. Distilling with one boiler. Anchorage bearings Flora Point S46E. Tchung-ZA House N51E. Magnetic.

Expended during month 200 x MH ball cartridges. 800 x Morris tube cartridges. Coal expended 9 tons 17 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

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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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