The U.S.S. MONTEREY was among the last monitors constructed for use by the U.S. Navy. She was constructed at the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, CA. Her keel was laid down on Dec. 20, 1889. She was placed in commission on Feb. 13, 1893.
The MONTEREY's first assignment was for harbor defense on the west coast. She steamed off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
With the victory of Dewey's Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay, efforts began to reinforce Dewey. On June 10, the MONTEREY, towed by the collier BRUTUS, began steaming the 7,000 miles from San Diego, CA to Manila Bay. On June 29, the vessels arrived off Honolulu. Finally, on Aug 4, they arrived in Manila Bay.
The MONTEREY had arrived in time for the final assualt on Manila.. The fall of Manila effectively ended the fighting in the Philippines during the Spanish American War.
The MONTEREY continued to serve in the Philippines, supporting the occupation of Luzon, during the Philippine-American War. In September, 1899, the vessel took part in actions to destroy a large gun at the head of Subic Bay.
MONTEREY left the Philippines for China in April of 1900. She served as the station ship at Shanghai from July 1900 to September 1901. She served in various far eastern ports until being decommissioned on Dec. 15, 1904.
The MONTEREY was recommissioned on Sep 28, 1907 at Olongapo, but within eight and a half months was placed in ordinary. She was recommissioned in reserve through 1911 and aided in the protection of American interest through 1917. In 1917, the vessel was towed to Pearl Harbor, where she served as a station ship. She remained in service at the submarine base until 1921 when she was sold for scrap. She made one final trip to the American mainland to be scrapped.
The MONTEREY was not built for service on the seas, but for harbor defense. She was very slow. However, her large guns and heavy armor would have made her of value in harbor defense. She had a unique aspect in that she had trim tanks that would allow her to submerge until only a few inches of freeboard remained, decreasing her size as a target.
