USS Belknap CG-26    02/86 - 07/86

I was recruited by the XO to help get the ship ready to serve as Sixth Fleets flag ship. The day after checking onboard the ship sailed for GETMO to spend 4 months in the sun of the Caribbean. REFTRA was not the most enjoyable time as most sailors can attest too who have been through it, but having the opportunity of firing the ships missile and gun systems can make up for it, if nothing else you normally do get a very good tan out of it, no matter what time of year you go down there.

We left GETMO in May and sailed back to Norfolk. We only stayed there for about a week before the ship left for Gaeta, Italy. Even thou I was only onboard the Belknap for a short period of time it was a very busy period of time getting her through Reftra at GETMO and than finishing fitted her out for her duties as the 6th Fleet Flag ship along with changing homeport to an overseas port made for a very interesting and challenging time period. 

History:

USS BELKNAP was the lead ship of the BELKNAP-class of guided missile cruisers and the first ship in the Navy to carry the SH-2 helicopter on deployment. In April 1986, BELKNAP relieved the USS CORONADO (AGF 11) as the Sixth Fleet Command Ship and was homeported in Gaeta, Italy.
Later, the BELKNAP was relieved by the USS LA SALLE (AGF 3).

In 1995, the BELKNAP was decommissioned and about 3 1/2 years later she became the "victim" of a Sinkex of the Navy. The BELKNAP was sunk on September 24, 1998, off the east coast of the United States. The exact location is 036° 31' 00.3" North, 071° 58' 00.5" West.

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