| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Armed Merchant Cruiser |
| Class | [No specific class] |
| Pennant | F 48 |
| Built by | A. Stephen & Sons Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | |
| Launched | 24 Oct 1934 |
| Commissioned | 12 Dec 1939 |
| End service | 30 Sep 1942 |
| History | On 14 October 1939 the passenger ship Manoora of the The Adelaide SS Co Ltd, Adelaide was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. She was commissioned on 12 December 1939 but her conversion was not completed untill 5 February 1940. Displacement: 10856 BRT Career: From September 1942 to 2 February 1943 converted to a landing ship LSI(L). Took part in the landing operations in Morotai, Lingayen Gulf, Tarakan and Balikpapan. From September 1945 to November 1947 used as repatriation ship for troops. As LSI(L) she was armed with 1 12pdr AA, 6 40mm AA (6x1), 8 20mm AA (8x1). Decommissioned on 6 December 1947 and on 31 August 1949 returned to owner. |
Commands listed for HMAS Manoora (F 48)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Cdr. Arthur Henry Spurgeon, RAN | 12 Dec 1939 | 29 Apr 1942 |
| 2 | A/Capt. John Malet Armstrong, RAN | 30 Apr 1942 | 26 Oct 1942 |
| 3 | A/Cdr. Sydney Thomas Milton Gower, RAN | 27 Oct 1942 | 29 Jun 1943 |
| 4 | A/Capt. Cecel Claude Baldwin, RAN | 30 Jun 1943 | 15 Dec 1943 |
| 5 | A/Cdr. Sydney Thomas Milton Gower, RAN | 16 Dec 1943 | 26 Jan 1944 |
| 6 | Cdr. Alan Paterson Cousin, RANR(S) | 27 Jan 1944 | 6 Dec 1947 |
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Noteable events involving Manoora include:
12 Jun 1940
With the likelihood of the entry of Italy into the war, HMAS Manoora (Cdr. A.H. Spurgeon, RAN) shadowed the Italian passenger/cargo ship Romolo (9780 GRT) which had departed Brisbane, Australia on 5 June. When, by the morning of 9 June, Italy's attentions were still unclear and the shadowing might continue indefinitely, Manoora was called off. By that evening, however, the situation had become clearer and Manoora was ordered to find Romolo and recommence shadowing. By this time the Italian liner was 160 nautical miles away, steering north east. She was eventually caught on the 12th by Manoora approximately 220 nautical miles south-west of Nauru in position 02?30'S, 165?30'E and scuttled herself. As she returned to Australia with the Romolo's crew and passengers, Manoora embarked the complement of the American merchant vessel Admiral Wiley(3545 GRT) which had run aground on Kitava Island in the Trobriands on the 13th. Manoora reached Townsville, Australia on 17 June. (see map)