USS Belknap, BIW Hull 342, was the lead ship of nine 8,900-ton frigates designed to protect aircraft carriers against aircraft and submarine threats during the Cold War. Five of the class were built at BIW.
Belknap was laid down on Feb. 5, 1962, launched on July 20, 1963, delivered on Nov. 4, 1964, and commissioned three days later. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral George Belknak, who served during the Civil War, and his son, Rear Admiral Reginald Belknap , who served from the Spanish-American War through World War 1.
The ship was classified as a guided missile frigate, DLG 26, at a time when that designation was applied to large, destroyer-type ships. In 1975, when the Navy realigned its ship designation system, she became a guided missile cruiser, CG 26.
Belknap was powered by steam boilers and turbines generating 85,000 horsepower, carrying a primary armament of one Mk10 missile launcher capable of firing Terrier surface-to-air missiles and ASROC anti-submarine rockets. She was also armed with a single five-inch gun and two pairs of three-inch anti-aircraft guns, and was equipped with a small helicopter hangar and flight deck.
