USS Montana (ACR-13) - Pre-World War I

Pre-World War I

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Montana departed Norfolk on 5 August to cruise off the east coast until 25 January 1909, when she sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, for the Caribbean, arriving off Colón, Panama on the 29th. While operating with the Special Service Squadron, Montana departed Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba on 2 April for the Mediterranean to protect American interests during the aftermath of the Turkish Revolution of 1908. Leaving Gibraltar on 23 July, she arrived Boston on 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 on 22 July. Montana left Charleston, with President William Howard Taft and his party embarked on 10 November for a visit to Panama, returning her passengers to Hampton Roads on 22 November.

Montana was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on 26 July 1911 for major overhaul at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine until 11 November 1912. In December, she departed on a second trip to the Near East, stopping at Beirut, Alexandretta (now İskenderun) and Mersin, Turkey. Returning to the U.S. 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.