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.
Specifications | |
Displacement | 7,930 tons (full load) |
Length | 547 feet |
Beam | 55 feet |
Max Speed | 32 knots |
Power Plant | 4 - 1200 psi boilers; 2 geared turbines, 2 shafts; 85,000 shaft horsepower |
Aircraft | 1 - SH-2F (LAMPS) or 1 - SH-3 [CG 26 only] |
Armament |
Standard Missiles (ER) ASROC (from MK 16 box launcher) 8 - Harpoon (from two quad launchers) 6 - MK 46 torpedoes (from 2 triple tube mounts) 1 - 5-inch/54 caliber MK 42 gun 2 - 20mm Phalanx CIWS |
Radar |
SPS-10F Surface search SPS-48C 3D search SPS-49 Air search |
Sonar | SQS-26BX bow mounted |
Fire Control |
1 Mk 14 weapon direction system 1 Mk 68 GFCS with SPG-53F radar 2 SPG-55B radar. |
Complement | 477 (27 officers, 450 enlisted) |
Ships | ||||||
Name | Number | Builder | Homeport | Ordered | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
Belknap | CG 26 | Bath | Gaeta | 18 Apr 1961 | 07 Nov 1964 | 15 Feb 1995 |
Josephus Daniels | CG 27 | Bath | Norfolk | 1961 | 08 May 1965 | 21 Jan 1994 |
Wainwright | CG 28 | Bath | Charleston | 1961 | 08 Jan 1966 | 15 Nov 1993 |
Jouett | CG 29 | Puget Sound NSY | San Diego | 1961 | 10 Dec 1966 | 28 Jan 1994 |
Horne | CG 30 | San Francisco NSY | Long Beach | 1961 | 15 Apr 1967 | 04 Feb 1994 |
Sterett | CG 31 | Puget Sound NSY | Subic Bay | 20 Sep 1961 | 08 Apr 1967 | 24 Mar 1994 |
William H. Standley | CG 32 | Bath | San Diego | 1961 | 09 Jul 1966 | 11 Feb 1994 |
Fox | CG 33 | Todd | San Diego | 1961 | 08 May 1966 | 15 Apr 1994 |
Biddle | CG 34 | Bath | Norfolk | 16 Jan 1962 | 21 Jan 1967 | 30 Nov 1993 |