CG 26 – Belknap - class Guided Missile Cruiser
Units		in service	Builder
CG 26 USS Belknap		1964	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
CG 27 USS Josephus Daniels		1965	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
CG 28 USS Wainwright		1966	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
CG 29 USS Jouett		1966	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington
CG 30 USS Horne		1967	San Francisco Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California
CG 31 USS Sterett		1967	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington
CG 32 USS William H. Standley		1966	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
CG 33 USS Fox		1966	Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
CG 34 USS Biddle		1967	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
General Information: (for specific information, namesake & history click on the ship’s name, above)
Modern US Navy Guided Missile Cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships are multi-mission (AAW, ASW, ASUW) surface combatants capable of supporting carrier or battleship battle groups, amphibious forces, or of operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups. Due to their extensive combat capability, these ships have been designated as Battle Force Capable (BFC) units. The primary mission of Belknap-class was to provide anti-air (AAW) and anti-surface (ASUW) defense for aircraft carrier task force. Her secondary missions were to provide defense against submarines (ASW) and to conduct shore bombardment (NGFS) in support of amphibious operations. Designed to operate at high speed for extended periods of time in support of long range Battle Group operations, the Belknap-class was fitted with air search radars and a weapons direction system that uses digital computers. This system processed data on air targets and feeds it to the missile fire control and launching systems in order to aim and fire extended range standard missiles at any attacking aircraft or missile. The Belknap-class was equipped with long range sonar which provided data to the underwater battery fire control system. The ASW armament included Anti-Submarine Rockets, Light Airborne Multi-Purpose helicopters, and torpedoes. They were also equipped with a single dual-purpose rapid fire five-inch 54 caliber gun for defense against air and surface attacks as well as for NGFS. Other armament included two 20mm Gatling guns (CIWS) for close-in air defense, the HARPOON surface-to-surface missile system for use against enemy ships over the horizon, and the Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) for use as a decoy. Originally classified as Guided Missile Destroyer Leader [DLG] these ships were reclassified as Guide Missile Cruisers in 1975. The comprehensive New Threat Upgrade (NTU) included combat system capability improvements to the ship's Air Search Radars (SPS-48E and SPS-49), Fire Control Radars (SPG-55B), and Combat Direction System (CDS). These improvements provided an accurate means of coordinating the engagment of multiple air targets with SM-2 Extended Range missiles. During the NTU overhaul, all spaces were renovated, berthing and food service areas were refurbished, and the engineering plant was fully overhauled. Although the Belknap-class cruisers had only recently acquired these new capabilities, they were retired in the early 1990s after roughly 30 years of service.
Armament (as built): BATTERY: 1 x FMC – Mk42 5”/54 caliber gun mounted aft 2 x 3"/50 caliber AA guns in 2 single mounts amidships (replaced in NTU by HARPOON) SAM: 1 x Mk10 twin arm Guided Missile Launching System for Terrier Missiles, Standard SM-1 SAM (60 missiles in total) – upgraded to fire GDC Standard SM-2ER in the 70’s. ASuW: Honeywell ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) fired from the Mk10 launching system 2 x 21" transom torpedo tubes mounted port and starboard (removed in NTU) 2 x Mk-32 triple mounts for 6 Mk-46 / 12.75" torpedoes;
Armament – after NTU (New Threat Upgrade): BATTERY: 1 x FMC – Mk42 5”/54 caliber gun mounted aft SAM: 1 x Mk10 twin arm Guided Missile Launching System for Standard SM-1MR/ER SAM (60 missiles in total) SSM: 2 x Mk-141 Harpoon quad-launchers with 8 RGM-84A Harpoon ship-to-ship missiles ASuW: Honeywell ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) fired from the Mk10 launching system 2 x Mk-32 triple mounts for 6 Mk-46 / 12.75" torpedoes; CIWS: 2 x GE/GD Mk-15 Phalanx 20mm 6-barreled CIWS (Close-in-Weapon-System) amidships – 1 port, 1 starboard
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