USS Montana (ACR-13)

The USS Montana (ACR-13), also known as the Montana-class armored cruiser, was a United States Navy armored cruiser. She was authorized on March 2, 1905, and commissioned on July 21, 1908. Montana, along with her sister ships North Carolina, Missoula (later renamed USS Missoula) and South Dakota, represented the final generation of American armored cruisers built before the advent of dreadnought battleships rendered them obsolete.

Montana was designed primarily for high speed and long-range cruising. Her main armament consisted of four 10-inch (254 mm) guns in two twin turrets, one forward and one aft, and sixteen 6-inch (152 mm) guns in single casemates along the sides. She also had a secondary battery of smaller guns for close-range defense.

Throughout her career, the Montana served in various roles, including patrol duty and representing the United States at international events. She patrolled the Atlantic during World War I, escorting convoys and searching for German submarines. After the war, she served primarily in the Pacific.

Montana was decommissioned in 1921 and sold for scrapping in 1930, marking the end of her service in the U.S. Navy. While her career was relatively short compared to some warships, the Montana represented a significant step in American naval technology and played a role in the nation's maritime power during the early 20th century. She should not be confused with later ships to bear the name USS Montana.