after fitting out in boston navy yard, "manley" sailed in company with battleship division nine on 25 november 1917 to join the convoy escort and patrol forces based at queenstown, ireland. on the morning of 19 march 1918, while "manley" escorted a convoy, she rolled against the british auxiliary cruiser hms "montague", which caused the accidental detonation of "manley's" depth charges. her stern was practically destroyed, and 33 enlisted men as well as her executive officer, lt. comdr. richard m. elliot jr., were killed in the subsequent explosion. fragments pierced two 50-gallon drums of gasoline and two tanks containing 100 gallons of alcohol. the leaking fluids caught fire as they ran along the deck and enveloped the ship in flames which were not extinguished until late that night.