On November 22, 1975, the calm waters of the Ionian Sea turned into the setting for one of the most harrowing naval disasters of the Cold War. Seventy miles east of Sicily, a nighttime tactical maneuver went catastrophically wrong when the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) collided with the guided-missile cruiser USS Belknap (CG-26).
The massive flight deck of the carrier sliced deep into the cruiser’s superstructure, shearing through metal, severing critical power lines and dumping jet fuel directly into the ship’s lower spaces. What followed was a terrifying inferno that transformed the Belknap into a floating furnace.
In his powerful book, Save the Belknap, Captain Robert C. Powers, U.S. Navy (Retired) delivers an authentic, heart-pounding eyewitness account of the inferno, the fight for survival and the extraordinary human courage that prevented total catastrophe.
An Inferno on the High Seas
Old Navy saying: A fire at sea can ruin your whole day!
The heat generated by the jet-fuel-fed fire was so intense that Belknap’s aluminum superstructure melted into white-hot slag. Thick, poisonous smoke filled the passageways, communications failed instantly and crew members were forced to navigate a labyrinth of darkness and flames.
Compounding the terror was the immediate threat of secondary explosions. The cruiser was equipped with live ordnance and nuclear-capable weapons, located mere feet from the advancing firestorm. Three inch projectiles stored in ready service magazines began to “cook off” sending shrapnel cascading onto the decks.
For the crew aboard the Belknap and the brave sailors on nearby destroyer USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), who rushed alongside to assist, there was no opportunity to hesitate. They faced an agonizing dilemma: abandon ship or stand and fight a firestorm with whatever tools remained.
120 PSI of Water and Unyielding Courage
As Commanding Officer (Captain) of Ricketts during the crisis, Captain Powers witnessed the battle from the center of the action. In Save the Belknap, he -chronicles in detail how sailors lined up on the scorching decks, wrestling fire hoses pressurized to 120+ PSI, and the entire drama before him. He was on the bridge of Ricketts conning (driving) his ship to go alongside Belknap to allow the fire hoses to quench the fires., a difficult task on a stormy night I rolling seas. A sailor on Belknap l alter exclaimed “I’ve never seen ship-handling as great as that!”
Against staggering heat and suffocating fumes, these young men fought back inch by inch. They dragged wounded shipmates to safety and manually pumped water into critical compartments to prevent total detonation.
Powers brings these moments to life with raw honesty, capturing both the paralyzing fear of the night and the incredible resolve of the crew. His narrative honors the sacrifice of the eight sailors who lost their lives, keeping their memory alive for future generations.
A Masterclass in High-Stakes Leadership
Beyond the dramatic survival narrative, Save the Belknap serves as an insightful study in crisis leadership, damage control and military doctrine under pressure. Powers provides an expert analysis of the human errors, tactical misunderstandings and environmental factors that caused the collision in the first place. Leadership at all levels saved the day.
It demonstrates how rigorous naval training, discipline and steady leadership under fire can pull order out of complete chaos, showing what it truly takes to command when everything goes wrong.
Get Your Copy Today
If you are a fan of military history, true survival stories or dramatic accounts of bravery on the high seas, Save the Belknap is a compelling must-read for your collection. Step onto the burning deck and experience the heroism, tension and victory of the human spirit firsthand.
Order your copy of Save the Belknap by Captain Robert C. Powers today on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJN1JCDP
