USS BELKNAP (DLG-26:CG-26)

• First of Her Class: USS Belknap (DLG-26/CG-26) was the lead ship of her class of guided missile cruisers, setting the standard for seven other ships built in her design. • Commissioning: She was commissioned on November 7, 1964, and named after Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap. • Redesignation: Originally classified as a “frigate” (DLG), she was redesignated as a cruiser (CG) in 1975, reflecting changes in U.S. Navy ship classification. • Collision with USS Kennedy: On November 22, 1975, Belknap collided with the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in the Mediterranean Sea, causing a massive fire, the deaths of seven crewmen, and severe damage to the ship. • Hull Rebuilding: After the collision, Belknap was almost gutted to her main deck and underwent extensive rebuilding at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, returning to service in 1980. • Flagship for the Sixth Fleet: Belknap often served as the flagship for the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, including during tense periods of the Cold War. • Presidential Visit: In 1989, President George H. W. Bush visited the ship while she was the Sixth Fleet flagship, marking a rare presidential visit to a deployed warship. • Technical Innovations: Belknap was among the first ships to carry the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS), which greatly improved battle management capabilities. • Operation El Dorado Canyon: In April 1986, Belknap participated in the U.S. air strikes against Libya, providing air defense and command support during Operation El Dorado Canyon. • Final Fate: Decommissioned in 1995, Belknap was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise in 1998, ending her storied career at sea.