The fourth USS ''Montgomery'' (C-9), the lead ship of
her class, was an
unprotected cruiser in the
United States Navy authorized in the Naval Appropriations Act of September 7, 1888.
''Montgomery'' served during the
Spanish–American War and in
World War I and was named for
Montgomery, Alabama.
''Montgomery'' was launched 5 December 1891 by
Columbian Iron Works,
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
,
Maryland; sponsored by Miss Sophia Smith; and commissioned at
Norfolk Navy Yard 21 June 1894.
Service history
Assigned to the
North Atlantic Squadron, the new cruiser operated along the eastern seaboard and in the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
. During the Spanish–American War, she cruised near
Cuba and
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
in April 1898 and in May joined the blockade of
Havana. She took two prizes, ''Lorenzo'' and ''Frasquito'', 5 May, and shelled the
Spanish forts a week later.
On 13 June a 280mm
Krupp
The Krupp family (see pronunciation), a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, is notable for its production of steel, artillery, ammunition and other armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG (Friedrich Krup ...
gun at the
Santa Clara Battery
The Santa Clara Battery, with its two remaining coastal guns, one a caliber 305mm (12") Ordóñez HSE Modelo 1892 rifle and the other a 280mm (11") Krupp, stands on the grounds of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, in Vedado, Havana. UNESCO in 1982 includ ...
fired on ''Montgomery'', at a range of 9,000 meters, apparently without effect.
In April 1899 ''Montgomery'' transferred to the
South Atlantic Squadron and operated along the Atlantic coast of
South America . In July 1900 she was import Urgaguy with CDR JohnMerrill as her Commanding Officer. (US Census 2 July 1900, lists crew members.) She returning to the United States and decommissioning at
New York City 15 September 1900. Recommissioned 15 May 1902, she was assigned to the Caribbean Division, North Atlantic Squadron, and operated in the
West Indies until decommissioning at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 15 September 1904.
''Montgomery'' recommissioned 2 January 1908 and operated in the 5th Naval District as a torpedo experimental ship. From 1914 to 1918 she served with the
Maryland Naval Militia. Renamed ''Anniston'' 14 March 1918, she was assigned to Division 2, American Patrol Detachment, for patrol and escort duty along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean.
Decommissioning at
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
, 16 May 1918, ''Anniston'' was struck from the
Navy list 25 August 1919 and sold 14 November 1919.
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery (C-9)
Montgomery-class cruisers
Unprotected cruisers of the United States Navy
Ships built in Baltimore
1891 ships