Title:
USS Montana (ACR-13) Collection
Caption:
Collection photo # S-594.01 - recently boarded troops on USS Montana (ACR-13)
Description:
Collection of 76 photographs mostly related to the USS Montana (ACR-13) in late 1918 and first half of 1919. During this time, she made six voyages from France to the United States, bringing 8,000 American troops home from the former WWI combat zone. The photos mainly depict her troop transportation service, though a few were taken during USS Montana’s mid-1919 trip to the Pacific. The collection includes views onboard USS Montana (including the 10-inch gun turret, conning tower and bridge), onboard activities such as baseball pitching practice on the midships’ superstructure, holystoning deck planking, and boxing practice. The bulk of the photographs are scenes showing the transportation of troops from France, specifically musicians giving a concert on the deck, troops on the deck just after boarding at Brest (they are still wearing field packs and rifles, indicating they have just come aboard), troops relaxing on the after deck with a mascot dog, ferry lighter Amackassin bringing troops to USS Montana in Brest Harbor (bridge wings feature her name and initials A.T.S. – for Army Transport Service), and a welcome boat greening troops in New York Harbor. The photographs showing troop transportation from ferry boats to the USS Montana are all excellent. There are also several images of the ship’s voyage to the US West Coast via the Panama Canal in mid-1919. The Puget Sound Navy Yard is visible in several views. Item level descriptions of each photograph are available.
Catalog #:
S-594
Donor:
The photographs were purchased and donated by Mark Kulikowski.
Copyright Owner:
Naval History & Heritage Command
