| The first Montana (ACR-13), was laid down by the Newport
News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia, 29 April 1905; launched 15
December 1906; sponsored by Miss Minnie Conrad; and commissioned at the Norfolk
Navy Yard 21 July 1908, CApt. Alfred Reynolds in command. |
| Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Montana departed Norfolk
5 August to cruise off the east coast until 25 January 1909 when she sailed
from Charleston, South Carolina, for the Caribbean, arriving off Colon, Panama,
the 29th. While operating with the Special Services Squadron, Montana
departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2 April for the Mediterranean to protect American
interests during the aftermath of the Turkish Revolution of 1908. Leaving
Gibraltar 23 July, she arrived Boston, Massachutess, 3 August, and resumed
east coast operations. |
| On 8 April 1910 the armored cruiser sailed from Hampton Roads,
Virginia, to take part in the Argentine Centennial Celebration, calling at
Uruguay, Argentina and finally Brazil before heading for home 30 June, arriving
Hampton Roads 22 July. Montana left Charleston, which President Taft
and his party embarked, 10 November for a visit to Panama, returning her
passengers to Hampton Roads, 22 November. |
| Montana was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet 26 July
1911 for major overhaul at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
until 11 November 1912. In December she departed on a second trip to the
Near East, stopping at Beirut, Syria (now Lebanon), and Alexandretta (now
Iskenderun) and Mersin, Turkey. Returning to the United States in June 1913,
Montana operated off the east coast and made training cruises to Mexico,
Cuba, and Haiti until the United States entered World War I. |
| During the first months of the war, Montana conducted
training exercises and transported supplies and men in the York River area
and along the east coast. Assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Forces 17
July 1917, she did convoy and escort duty out of Hampton Roads; New York
and Halifax, Nova Scotia, through most of 1917 and 1918. The armored cruiser
also performed as a Naval Academy practice ship in the Chesapeake Bay area
early in 1918. Ordered to France in December, between January and July 1919
Montana made six round trips from Europe, returning 8,800 American
troops. |
| Following her arrival at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Seattle, Washington,
Montana remained there from 16 August 1919 through her decommissioning
2 February 1921. On 7 June 1920 Montana was renamed Missoula
for a city of Montana and classified CA-13 . She was struck form the Navy
list 15 July 1930 and sold to John Irwin, Jr., 29 September 1930. In October
1935 the armored cruiser was scrapped in accordance with the London Treaty
for the reduction of naval armament of 31 December 1930. |
Displacement, 14,500; Length, 504'6"; Beam 72'11"; Draft 25'; Speed,
22 knots; Complement, 859; Armament, four 10", sixteen 6", twenty-two 3",
twelve 3-pdrs; four 1-pdrs., four 21" torpedo tubes |
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