HMS Manchester was launched on 24 November 1980 and commissioned on 16 December 1982

She commissioned with 50% of her Ship's Company taken from HMS's Sheffield and Coventry survivors. Manchester's first operational deployment was to the Falkland Islands. During the mid-1980s Manchester participated in the Royal Navy's Global 86 tour where a task group, led by Illustrious, was detached to fly the flag in a round the world cruise and series of port visits.

In 1988, she saw service on the Armilla patrol and whilst on this deployment she was visited by the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who made a flying visit following her tour of India. The period also coincided with the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

In 2004, Manchester deployed to the Mediterranean and the following year returned there as part of a NATO task force. During the four-month deployment she was employed in a counter terrorist role alongside other European and American ships.

From 27–30 July 2009, Manchester visited Bermuda to help celebrate the British Overseas Territory's 400th anniversary. 

In 2010 Manchester had a seven-month deployment to the West Indies, mainly on counter-drug operations. On 15 November 2010, Manchester became the first British warship to visit Havana since 1957. Her visit to Cuba paved the way for the thawing of US-Cuba relations. This deployment ended in December 2010 and culminated in a £19 million drug bust. 

On 21 February 2011, Manchester sailed into Portsmouth where she was decommissioned on the 24th