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Light cruiser HMS Manchester (15)

1 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Aden for Colombo.

At the outbreak of the Second World War HMS Manchester was part of the 4th Cruiser Squadron which was based on the East Indies Station. The other cruisers that were part of the 4th Cruiser Squadron were her sister ships HMS Gloucester (Capt. F.R. Garside, CBE, RN wearing the Flag of Vice-Admiral Sir R. Leatham, CB, RN) and HMS Liverpool (Capt. A.D. Read, RN).

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period 1 September to 7 September 1939 see the map below.

(1)

3 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Aden. She departed later the same day for Colombo again. (1)

7 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Colombo. (1)

9 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Colombo for patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 9 to 14 September 1939 see the map below.

(1)

14 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Colombo. (1)

16 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Colombo for patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 16 to 21 September 1939 see the map below.

(1)

21 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Bombay. (1)

23 Sep 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Bombay to escort convoy K 4 part of the way towards Suez.

Convoy K 4 was made up of the British merchant vessels Erinpura (5128 GRT, built 1911), Karanja (9891 GRT, built 1931), Talamba (8018 GRT, built 1924) and Varsova (4691 GRT, built 1914).

For the daily poitions of HMS Manchester during the period of 23 September 1939 to 4 October 1939 see the map below.

(1)

25 Sep 1939
Around 0800 hours (zone -4.5), HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) and the ships of convoy K 4 (see the event for HMS Manchester for 23 September 1939) were joined in appoximate position 18°30'N, 63°06'E by HMS Rochester (Cdr. G.F. Renwick, RN) and two more merchant ships; Indora (6622 GRT, built 1938), Rohna (8602 GRT, built 1926). (1)

4 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Aden. (2)

8 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Aden to escort the French merchant vessel Cap Varella (7677 GRT, built 1922) until 1800C/12.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 8 to 19 October 1939 see the map below.

(2)

13 Oct 1939
At 0740C/13, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) made rendez-vous with the British troopship (former liner) Empress of Australia (21560 GRT, built 1920). (2)

15 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Aden. She departed for Bombay later the same day still escorting the British troopship (former liner) Empress of Australia (21560 GRT, built 1920). (2)

19 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Bombay. (2)

20 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo still escorting the British troopship (former liner) Empress of Australia (21560 GRT, built 1920).

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester from 20 to 29 October 1939 see the map below.

(2)

23 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Colombo. She departed later the same day for Bombay escorting the British troopship (liner) Ettrick (11279 GRT, built 1938). (2)

26 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Bombay. (2)

27 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Bombay still escorting the British troopship (liner) Ettrick (11279 GRT, built 1938) until 1030EF/28. (2)

29 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Bombay where she was immediately docked. (2)

30 Oct 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) was undocked. (2)

6 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) conducted exercises off Bombay. (3)

10 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Bombay for Aden. HMS Manchester had been ordered to return to the U.K. on 5 November.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester from 10 to 25 November 1939 see the map below.

(4)

13 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Aden. She departed for Port Said later the same day. (3)

15 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Port Said. (3)

16 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Port Said for Malta. (3)

18 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Malta. (3)

20 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar. (3)

22 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. She departed for Portsmouth later the same day. Upon leaving Gibraltar she was briefly escorted by HMS Keppel (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN). (3)

25 Nov 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. Before joining the Home Fleet she underwent a repair and refit period. (3)

18 Dec 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) conducted trials off Portsmouth. During the day, HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), made two practice torpedo attacks on the Manchester. (5)

22 Dec 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Portsmouth for Scapa Flow. (5)

24 Dec 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow. (5)

26 Dec 1939
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow to relieve HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) on the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 26 December 1939 to 4 January 1940 see the map below.

(5)

4 Jan 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (6)

10 Jan 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) conducted exercises in and off Scapa Flow. (6)

15 Jan 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow to intercept the damaged German merchant Trautenfels (6418 GRT, built 1921) off the Norwegian coast.

When it was leart that the Trautenfels had been taken in tow to Narvik the operation was cancelled and HMS Manchester proceeded on Northern Patrol duties. (6)

15 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester from 15 to 27 January 1940 see the map below.

27 Jan 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (6)

2 Feb 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester from 2 to 12 February 1940 see the map below.

(7)

12 Feb 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (7)

15 Feb 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during 15 to 25 February 1940 see the map below.

(7)

17 Feb 1940
At 0930Z/17, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN), is joined by the British destroyer HMS Gurkha (Cdr. A.W. Buzzard, RN).

At 1400Z/27, HMS Gurkha, parted company and HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN) took over the escort duties until 0710Z/20. (7)

20 Feb 1940
At 0755Z/20, HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. R.G.K. Knowling, RN), joined HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) to escort this cruiser while she was on the Northern Patrol. (7)

21 Feb 1940 (position 62.52, -15.03)
At 1523Z/21, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN), together with the destroyer HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. R.G.K. Knowling, RN), intercepted the German merchant vessel Wahehe (4687 GRT, built 1922) in position 62°52'N, 15°03'W.

The Wahehe was towed to Kirkwall by HMS Kimberley which was joined by her sister ship HMS Khartoum (Cdr. D.T. Dowler, RN) on the 22nd. Wahehe later entered service for the MOWT as Empire Citizen.

25 Feb 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (7)

2 Mar 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period from 2 to 12 March 1940 see the map below.

(8)

12 Mar 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (8)

18 Mar 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Northern Patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period from 18 to 28 March 1940 see the map below.

(8)

28 Mar 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) returned to Scapa Flow. (8)

7 Apr 1940
HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) and HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN) departed Scapa Flow together to provide cover for convoy ON 25 from Methill to Norway. They were near the convoy to provide cover around 1500 hours. The next day the convoy was ordered to return due to the German naval activity in Norwegian waters and the North Sea. Both cruisers were ordered to join the Home Fleet at sea which they did on the 9th. (9)

7 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily positions of HMS Manchester from 7 to 10 April 1940 see the map below.

9 Apr 1940
At 0700 hours (zone -1), HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN) and HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN) both joined the C-in-C in the Home Fleet.

At 1140 hours, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN), HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) and HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN) were detached for an operation in Norwegian territorial waters (operate against German forces in water at and around Bergen). They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Afridi (Capt. P.L. Vian, RN), HMS Gurkha (Cdr. A.W. Buzzard, RN), HMS Sikh (Cdr. J.A. Giffard, RN), HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN), HMS Somali (Capt. R.S.G. Nicholson, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN) and HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN).

Soon after 1400 hours however a signal was received cancelling the operation and the ships set course to re-join the fleet.

In the afternoon the German Luftwaffe however started to attack the ships and near missed lightly damaged HMS Southampton and HMS Glasgow. HMS Gurkha was however sunk. Survivors were picked up by HMS Aurora (Capt. L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN) who was also on her way to join the Home Fleet at sea.

Later on the 9th most of the ships involved in the intended opertion against Bergen were ordered to proceed to Scapa Flow or Sullom Voe for refuelling. (9)

10 Apr 1940
In the afternoon, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.H. Bousfield, RN), returned to Scapa Flow to fuel and re-ammunition.

Early that night (shortly before 0100 hours), HMS Manchester, had reported running over a submerging German submarine. Depth charges were dropped but these failed to explode. This encounter was with U-49. (9)

12 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 12 to 21 April 1940 see the map below.

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