In 1934, the vessel was renamed Trémintin and was sunk during World War II by British aircraft.

Designed by the naval architect Emile Bertin, the Gueydon-class ships were intended to fill the commerce-raiding strategy of the Jeune École.

[1] The Gueydon class had three vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a single propeller shaft.

Steam for Montcalm's engines was provided by 20 Normand Sigaudy boilers and they were rated at a total of 20,000 metric horsepower (15,000 kW) that gave them a speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph).

[1][2] Laid down by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée at their La Seyne-sur-Mer shipyard on 27 September 1898, she was launched on 27 March 1900 and was commissioned on 24 March 1902, before completing her trials, to ferry the President of the Republic, Émile Loubet, to Russia.

[4] After the outbreak of World War I, Montcalm supported in the Australian capture of Rabaul in September 1914.