Monts joined the Prussian Navy in 1849 becoming Leutnant zur See (second lieutenant) in 1856. In 1864 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and then served three years attached to the supreme naval command Oberkommando der Marine. In 1868 Monts was promoted to Korvettenkapitän (lieutenant commander) as part of the section for naval and coastal affairs. During the Franco-German war of 1870-1871 he was responsible for port embargoes. Afterwards he became Inspector of Torpedoes and commanded the artillery school ship Renown. In 1874, he was promoted to the rank of Kapitän zur See.[citation needed] The following year, he captained the newly commissioned ironclad SMS Grosser Kurfürst during the ship's accidental sinking on 31 May 1875. Between 1875 and 1877 Monts undertook a journey around the wor