USS Montana ( ACR - 13 ) The first USS " Montana " ( ACR - 13 ) , also referred to as " Armored Cruiser No . 13 " , later renamed Missoula and designated CA - 13 , was a armored cruiser of the United States Navy , a sister ship of . She was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co . , Newport News , Virginia on 29 April 1905 , launched on 15 December 1906 , sponsored by Miss Minnie Conrad , and commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard on 21 July 1908 , Captain Alfred Reynolds in command . 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 . 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 Force on 17 July 1917 , she did convoy and escort duty out of Hampton Roads ; New York ; and Halifax , Nova Scotia through most of 1917 – 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 , " Montana " made six round trips from Europe from January – July 1919 , returning 8 , 800 American troops . Inter - war period . Following her arrival at Puget Sound Navy Yard , Bremerton , Washington , " Montana " remained there from 16 August 1919 – 2 February 1921 , when she was decommissioned . On 7 June 1920 , " Montana " was renamed — in order to use her original name for a prospective new battleship of the " South Dakota " class , BB - 51 - - - Missoula , for Missoula , Montana , and reclassified CA - 13 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 July 1930 and sold to John Irwin , Jr . on 29 September . In October 1935 , the armored cruiser was scrapped in accordance with the London Naval Treaty .