Wreck of USS Belknap (CG-26)

 military, shipwreck, cruiser, United States Navy

The USS Belknap was the first ship in her class of Guided Missile Cruisers and served with the US Navy as a member of the Atlantic Fleet from 1964 to 1975, then from 1980 to 1995.

The Belknap was involved in a major collision with the USS John F. Kennedy in the Med in 1975 which resulted in 7 deaths and the complete destruction of the Belknaps' superstructure, which was made of lighter Aluminum and melted in the resulting fire. The ship was rebuilt over a period of 5 years into a flagship for the 6th Fleet, and re-entered service in 1980. The fire and damage it caused to the ship were directly responsible for all of the new Arliegh Burke Class Destroyers to be built with all steel superstructures instead of Aluminum.

Following her decommissioning she was placed into the James River Reserve Fleet until September 24th, 1998 when she was sunk as a target at this location.

www.navsource.org/archives/04/1126/040126.htm