Naval History and Heritage Command

Authorized by Act of Congress of 29 August 1916 and appropriated-for on 4 March 1917, Montana (BB-51), the third ship of the projected South Dakota (BB-49)‑class,  was laid down on 1 September 1920 at Vallejo, Calif., by the Mare Island Navy Yard.

In accordance with the stipulations of the Washington Treaty limiting naval armaments, however, Montana’s construction was suspended on 8 February 1922 when the ship was 27.6% complete. Stricken from the Navy list on 24 August 1923, she was sold on 25 October 1923 to the firm of Learner & Rosenthal, Oakland, Calif., and was broken up on the building ways.

Updated, Robert J. Cressman

12 October 2023