The Belknap class cruisers, of which nine were built in total during the 1960s, were envisaged as large missile-armed destroyer leaders (the US Navy’s term for frigate used between 1950 and 1975). However, they were reclassified in the 1975 USN fleet realignment due to their large displacement, of 9,730 tons, as guided missile cruisers. Crucial in keeping the displacement to an acceptable level had been the extensive use of aluminium in the vessels’ superstructure.
The lead ship of the class, USS Belknap, was ordered from Bath Iron Works in Maine on 5 February 1962, launched on 20 July 1963 and commissioned on 7 November 1964. She was fitted the latest surface search and air search radars. During the 1980s the weapons were upgraded substantially. The by then obsolete Terrier missiles were replaced with the RIM-67 Standard missile system, and this was upgraded further in the early 1990s to the latest SM-2ER Block II standard. The Mk.10 launcher, however, was retained for the launching of ASROC missiles.
The obsolete three-inch guns were replaced with two four-cell Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a pair of Phalanx CIWS as defence against anti-ship missiles. For anti-submarine operations the ships were fitted with a pair of three-cell Mk.46 torpedo launchers and an SH-2H Seasprite helicopter.
NUCLEAR VARIANT
Early in the design process for the cruisers the decision was taken to build a nuclear variant of the class. The US Navy had invested heavily in atomic power, having already commissioned the aircraft carrier, the cruiser and the frigate . For the next nuclear-powered ship they chose to develop a hull design that was already in use. The result was USS which was larger than by 17ft but retained the same weapons and sensors as the conventionally powered cruisers. She was powered by two D2G reactors rather than her sister class’s four 1,200psi boilers.
