Carlisle was credited with shooting down eleven Axis aircraft during the Second World War and was the top scoring anti-aircraft ship in the Royal Navy.

On the evening of 3 March 1921, the Singaporean passenger ship SS Hong Moh ran aground on the White Rocks off Lamock Island, Shantou, China and was wrecked with the loss of an estimated 900 to 1,000 lives.

The steamer SS Shanti discovered the wreck on the morning of 4 March and rendered assistance, rescuing 45 survivors before steaming to Shantou to seek additional help for Hong Moh.

The Royal Navy sloop HMS Foxglove arrived on the scene late on 5 March but was unable to locate the wreck in the darkness.

Among the officers and ratings of Carlisle, Evans, along with Lieutenant-Commander Ion Tower and Gunner John G. Dewar, were awarded the Board of Trade Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, while Leading Seaman W. G. Eldrett and Able Seaman A. E. Whitehead received the award in Bronze.

In June 1939 Carlisle started a conversion to an anti-aircraft cruiser, with eight 4-inch (102 mm) QF MK16 and 1 quadruple 2-pounder Pom-Pom being fitted.

She escorted a troop convoy consisting of the 148th Infantry Brigade which went ashore at Åndalsnes; threatening the German position in Trondheim from the north and south (Operation Sickle).

By December, she returned to convoy duties between Alexandria and Malta and was sent to support the commissioned auxiliary supply ship HMS Breconshire.

On 9 October 1943, they were spotted by German Ju 87 dive bombers from I. StG 3 from the Megara air base which succeeded in sinking Panther at 12.05 and later on seriously damaged Carlisle; killing 24 members of the ship's company.