The start of the war led to the dissolution of the treaty system, but the dramatic need for new vessels precluded a new design, so the Clevelands used the same hull as their predecessors, but were significantly heavier.

The ship was laid down 25 September 1944 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 5 March 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Ernest J. Gladu; and commissioned 29 October 1946, Capt.

Following the start of World War II in September 1939, Britain announced it would suspend the treaty for the duration of the conflict, a decision the US Navy quickly followed.

[3] The ship's belt armor ranged in thickness from 3.5 to 5 in (89 to 127 mm), with the thicker section amidships where it protected the ammunition magazines and propulsion machinery spaces.

[1] During this time, the Nationalist Chinese forces, having suffered extreme setbacks, had begun their withdrawal to the island of Taiwan, 16 July, and the People's Republic of China had been proclaimed at Peiping, 1 October 1949.

The United Nations quickly declared North Korea the aggressor and called on members of that body to repel the invasion, 26 to 27 June.

As part of a carrier group, she commenced operations in the Yellow Sea, supporting United Nations Forces air efforts against the elongated Communist communications lines by coastal patrol, blockade, and bombardment.

Forces soon reached the Yalu River and, as the heavy fighting appeared to be over, Manchester was reassigned, 29 October, to TF 72, then patrolling the Taiwan Straits.

[1] On 8 January 1951, Manchester evacuated injured crewmembers from the Thai corvette HTMS Prasae, which had grounded the previous day behind enemy lines near Kisamon Tan on the east coast.

Firing at both shore and inland targets, she blasted communication and transportation centers, destroying and disrupting the enemy's equipment and troop concentrations.

She continued to conduct shore bombardment activities along the northeast coast, primarily at Wonsan and Songjin, for the remainder of her first Korean combat tour.

[1] By this time, the conflict had altered in character, from quick forceful action to perseverance in the systematic destruction of the enemy's personnel and equipment.

To this purpose, TF 95 maintained a blockade along the entire Korean coast and bombarded the Communist's main supply routes, which, because of the mountainous terrain, lay on the narrow coastal plains.

Manchester patrolled along the Korean Peninsula shelling military targets in areas such as Chinnamp'o, Chongjin, Tong'Cho-Ri as well as regularly returning to Hungnam, Songjin, and Wonsan to add to the destruction of those tightly held enemy positions.

While her guns blasted, Manchester's helicopters continued her reputation as a good friend of downed pilots, performing rescues at sea and on land behind enemy lines.

Struck from the Navy list 1 April 1960, she was sold 31 October 1960 to the Nicolai Joffe Corp.[1] [1] For part of her Korean deployment (12 July 1951 – 29 May 1952), she was commanded by Laurence Hugh Frost,[4] who would later be the Director of the National Security Agency under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.