HMS Cossack (1854)

HMS Cossack was a Cossack-class corvette which was laid down as Witjas for the Imperial Russian Navy. She was seized due to the Crimean War breaking out whilst she was under construction and taken into service with the Royal Navy.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cossack.

HMS Cossack
History
Imperial Russian Navy EnsignRussia
NameWitjas (Russian: Витязь)
FateSeized while under construction in 1854
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Cossack
BuilderW. & H. Pitcher, Northfleet
Launched15 May 1854
Decommissioned1875
FateSold to Castle for breaking in May 1875
General characteristics
Class and typeCossack-class corvette
Displacement1,951 long tons (1,982 t)
Length195 ft (59 m)
Beam39 ft (12 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
  • 2-cyl horizontal single-expansion steam engine[1]
  • Single screw
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament20 guns

History

HMS Cossack was a wooden 20-gun corvette, built at Northfleet and launched on 15 May 1854. She was originally laid down for the Imperial Russian Navy as the corvette Witjas, however was confiscated during the Crimean War in 1854.

On 28 October 1854, she ran aground on the Draystone Rock, off Sheerness, Kent. Her captain was severely reprimanded at the ensuing court-martial.[2]

The Cossack's boat under a flag of truce, 5 June 1855 at Hango-Head, returning innocent prisoners, the boat's crew and some of the prisoners were massacred on landfall.

During the Crimean War, four vessels of the Royal Navy— Arrogant, Cossack, Magicienne, and Ruby—silenced the Russian batteries at a fort on Gogland on 21 July 1855. Cossack also participated in the blockade of the Courland coast, in July 1855 helped in the capture of Kotka's Island and in August was part of the bombardment of Sveaborg.[3]

On 9 January 1861, she ran into the merchant ship John and Henry, severely damaging the starboard side of John and Henry, which Cossack towed into Portsmouth, Hampshire.[4] Her next posting was on Cape of Good Hope Station, she transported Sir George Grey to his posting as Governor of New Zealand in 1861. She was later sent to China Station before joining the Australia Station in September 1871. In June 1872 the new town for Port Walcott on Western Australia's northwest coast was named Cossack to commemorate a visit in December 1871 with the colonial Governor of Western Australia Sir Frederick Weld on board.[5][6] She left the Australia Station in 1873 and sailed for England.[3]

She was sold to Castle for breaking up at Charlton in May 1875.[7]

Citations
  1. Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555. p.208
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Bradford Observer. No. 1078. Bradford. 9 November 1854. p. 3.
  3. Bastock, p.55.
  4. "Mercantile Ship News". The Standard. No. 11362. London. 10 January 1861. p. 7.
  5. "The Governor's Visit to the North-West Settlements". The Inquirer and Commercial News. Perth, WA. 31 January 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. "Cossack Townsite Precinct". Register of Heritage Places – Assessment Documentation. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 21 April 2006. p. 7. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. "HMS Cossack". Retrieved 5 August 2010.

References
  • Bastock, John (1988), Ships on the Australia Station, Child & Associates Publishing Pty Ltd; Frenchs Forest, Australia. ISBN 0-86777-348-0


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