HMS Manxman (1916)

HMS "Manxman" was a Royal Navy seaplane carrier of the First World War. She had been built as a fast passenger ferry for the Midland Railway serving the Heysham to Douglas run.

"Manxman" was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in late 1915, and was converted at Chatham Dockyard. The conversion included two aircraft hangars and a flying-off deck. She was commissioned as HMS "Manxman" on April 17 1916. Her operating aircraft included Sopwith Baby, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel and Short Type 184.

Upon commissioning, HMS "Manxman" was based at Rosyth, where she remained until October 1917, when she transferred to the Mediterranean. She paid off December 24 1919 and was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet company on February 12, 1920.

"Manxman" was again requisitioned for war service in October 1941, however as another ship was already using the name, she was renamed HMS "Caduceus". She served as a radar training vessel in Home waters, until transferred to the Ministry of War Transport in 1945. She was sold for scrap on August 9 1945.

References

*Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
* Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5
*Young, John. "A Dictionary of Ships of the Royal Navy of the Second World War"'. Patrick Stephens Ltd, Cambridge, 1975. ISBN 0-85059-332-8
*Lenton, H.T. & Colledge, J. J. "Warships of World War II", Ian Allen, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X