Without question, HMS Cossack was the most famous Destroyer of the Second World War.
By the outbreak of war, Cossack was back in the United Kingdom with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth, Scotland. During the Phony War she was mostly employed in escorting coastal convoys, but soon was heavily involved in mine-laying duties and intercepting German Iron ore ships in the Skaggerat.
On the 26th of May 1941, the Cossack leading the 4DF was ordered to join with the Home Fleet battleships searching for the Bismarck. The Fleet's own Destroyers were running short of fuel and needed to be relieved as a matter of urgent priority. That night the HMS Piorum sighted the Bismarck and at 2200 hrs Vian ordered his Destroyer flotilla into the attsck. Despite being seriously outgunned Cossack managed to launch three torpedoes from 6,000 yards at 0140 hrs. Two hits on the mighty German battleship being recorded. The other Destroyers made similar attacks and kept the Bismarck engaged until the Royal Navy battleships arrived at dawn to finally finish off the job.
Once the Bismarck sunk, Oskar, later renamed Oscar, was found floating on a board and rescued by British soldiers who then adopted him. Oscar joined the HMS Cossack Crew and proceeded to live with them for the next few months of his life.
Sadly on the 23rd Octiober 1941, HMS Cossack received a hit from a torpedo fired by the U-boat U-563. This killed Captain Berthon and 158 officers and men, with another 29 injured. Remarkably Cossack did not sink immediately and soon the fires went out. Seeing that Cossack was still very buoyant, she was reboarded , the engine started and, going astern, tried to make the long voyage back to Gibraltar. For a night and a day they kept the Cossack moving, but ultimately all was in vain, and the gallant little Cossack finally slipped beneath the waves on the following day. Oscar was found clinging to a piece of a plank and rescued, later boarding the HMS Ark Royal.
