November 5, 2004 at 4:04 pm
Here’s another couple of photo’s from the collection. Both are said to be Cruisers in the Mediterranean. My question is, are there enough identifying features to be able to say that one of them is HMS Manchester?
It’s sort of on topic too because HMS Manchester was involved in a battle with the Italian Fleet whilst having ground crew mwmbers of 37 Squadron aboard.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 5th November 2004 at 20:12
JDK.
Spartivento, of course. Completed the write-up a long time ago. Just after a decent shot of the Manchester to use. Even have an original of the Spartivento certificate.
Regards,
kev35
By: Flood - 5th November 2004 at 19:55
First pic is of a Southampton Class (third group) cruiser (note the forward funnel is further back than on Moggys pic) with a Dido Class (first group) cruiser following, which may be the same vessel in the second pic.
Moggys pic is a pre war shot. This is a wartime shot.
My paternal Grandfather served on HMS Manchester, only leaving when she was scuttled.
Flood
By: Andrew-O - 5th November 2004 at 19:53
What – still no news of Mr AiB ?
Must be up in his loft again, sitting in his Bond villain chair, looking at his Dulux colour charts 🙂
By: JDK - 5th November 2004 at 18:29
Second ship is Dido class, ack ack cruiser. Dunno about the first.
Leave that milk carton alone. That’s MINE!
Manchester it was that ‘lost’ it’s Walrus while on PQ17. The lost Walrus found one of the merchant ships and was towed ~yes, towed ~ to Murmansk, IIRC.
Was it Matapan or Spartivento you are after Kev? The Italian Navy website’s quite good (in English) on both.
Cheers
James
By: von Perthes - 5th November 2004 at 17:26
I’d hazard a guess that the leading ship of the three in the first photo is HMS Belfast or HMS Edinburgh. The aft mast being ahead of the after funnel suggests this.
The ship in the bottom photo is a Dido class for sure.
Geoff.
By: kev35 - 5th November 2004 at 16:57
Mmmm. Seems I need to have a bit of a rethink about things then. Shame that.
Thanks anyway.
kev35
By: Moggy C - 5th November 2004 at 16:33
Neither
The relative position of the aft funnel and the mast are wrong on the top picture. As are the heights of the two funnels
And it certainly isn’t the lower one. The triple forward firing turrets are a dead giveaway

Moggy
By: srpatterson - 5th November 2004 at 16:30
Oh great, now we’ve lost Andy. First JDK, and now AIB.
Now where did I put that milk carton???
By: Andrew-O - 5th November 2004 at 16:20
Yes, this is definitely one for Mr Andy-in-Beds.
(Having said that, I think the second photo is of a Dido Class cruiser and not HMS Manchester)
By: Barnowl - 5th November 2004 at 16:16
You called??? oh, the other one… thought i was actually popular there for a minute