Dates: 1904 - 1949
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.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Manxman
" Doug, I believe the old Minelayer HMS MANXMAN held the record for speed trial for many years and it was about 46 knots. I can remember in the early 1960’s that it was the talk of the fleet about how she looked at speed and photos were released of her taken from ahead of the bow. Just been ..."
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"Looking for Christopher Bennett who I served with on HMS Manxman in the far east.
also any one else who could possibly know me."
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