Belknap class cruiser

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Belknap-class guided missile cruiser

Class Overview
Class type:	Guided missile cruiser
Class name:	In honor of Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap
Preceded by:	Bainbridge-class cruiser
Succeeded by:	Truxtun-class cruiser
Ships of the line:	USS Belknap (DLG-26), USS Josephus Daniels (DLG-27), USS Wainwright (DLG-28), USS Jouett (DLG-29), USS Horne (DLG-30), USS Sterett (DLG-31), USS William H. Standley (DLG-32), USS Fox (DLG-33), USS Biddle (DLG-34)

The Belknap class cruisers were a class of single-ended guided missile cruisers (their missile armament was installed only forward, unlike "double-ended" missile cruisers with missile armament installed both forward and aft) built for the United States Navy during the 1960s. They were originally designated as DLG frigates (destroyer-leaders; the USN use of the term frigate from 1950 to 1975 was intended to evoke the power of the sailing frigates of old), but in the 1975 fleet realignment, they were reclassified as guided missile cruisers (CG).

The Truxtun class cruiser, which consisted of the USS Truxtun (CGN-35), was largely identical to the Belknap class, except it was nuclear powered.

The Belknap class cruisers were equipped with a Mk-10 missile launcher, firing the "Standard" surface-to-air missiles and ASROC missiles. They also carried Harpoon missiles, and were equipped with a single aft-firing 5" rapid-fire cannon.