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USS Rentz (FFG 46)

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Name
  
Rentz

Laid down
  
18 September 1982

Commissioned
  
30 June 1984

Launched
  
16 July 1983

Draft
  
6.71 m

Awarded
  
28 April 1980

Sponsored by
  
Mrs. Jean R. Lansing

Construction started
  
18 September 1982

Length
  
138 m

Beam
  
14 m

USS Rentz (FFG-46) Frigate Photo Index FFG46 USS RENTZ

USS Rentz (FFG-46) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided missile frigate, of the United States Navy, the 40th ship to be constructed of its class. The Rentz was named after World War II Navy Chaplain George S. Rentz (1882–1942). Rentz was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions following the loss of USS Houston in the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was the only Navy chaplain to be so honored during World War II.

Contents

USS Rentz (FFG-46) MaritimeQuest USS Rentz FFG46 Page 5

History

USS Rentz (FFG-46) MaritimeQuest USS Rentz FFG46 Page 1

The keel of Rentz was laid on 18 September 1982 at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California. She was launched 16 July 1983, sponsored by Mrs. Jean R. Lansing, daughter of Chaplain Rentz, and commissioned at Naval Station Long Beach on 30 June 1984 under the command of CDR Martin Jules Mayer (b. 1944). In attendance were survivors of Houston, as well as Chaplain Rentz's surviving daughter.

USS Rentz (FFG-46) USS Rentz FFG 46 Rentz Engineering Structural Consulting amp Design

In December 1985, Rentz moved from Long Beach, California to San Diego, California where it was based until it was decommissioned. Following initial shakedown cruises and operations, Rentz was assigned to the USS Ranger aircraft carrier group. As part of that group, the ship regularly cruised the Southern California Operations Area off the coast of San Clemente Island with a pair of fuzzy dice dangling above the ship's computerized helm. During "breakaways" after underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea, Rentz blasted the Beach Boys song "Little Deuce Coupe" as its inaugural "UNREP breakaway song."

USS Rentz (FFG-46) MaritimeQuest USS Rentz FFG46 Page 4

On 5 November 1986, Rentz was part of an historic visit to Qingdao (Tsing Tao; 青岛) China—the first US Naval visit to China since 1949. Rentz was accompanied by two other ships, the Reeves and Oldendorf. The visit was officially hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Previously, USS Dixie was the last ship to moor in China, departing in 1949 when the communists forced the Americans to leave the Chinese mainland.

USS Rentz (FFG-46) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

In July 1987, Rentz was sent to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will. Her primary duties consisted of escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. "Rentz" provided missile security escort for the North Persian Gulf Battlegroup destroyers during their transit in and out of the Straits of Hormuz en route to an operation code name "Nimble Archer" involving naval gun bombardment and SEAL Team take over of an abandoned oil rig being used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to stage attacks on Persian Gulf shipping. Rentz has been deployed to the Gulf numerous times since 1987.

USS Rentz (FFG-46) FileUS Navy 100215N3038W329 The guidedmissile frigate USS Rentz

On 28 November 2009 while the ship was moored in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates as part of the Nimitz carrier strike group, a crewman was killed while performing repairs to the ship. According to the Navy, Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge was electrocuted while working in an auxiliary machinery space. In response to the mishap, the Navy ordered the entire fleet to inspect ship electrical enclosures.

In December 2013, Rentz intercepted a small drug smuggling vessel in the United States Fourth Fleet area of responsibility as part of an anti-drug trafficking operation, Operation Martillo. The vessel contained approximately 313 kilograms of Cocaine worth an estimated $10.4 million. This was the fourth successful bust, bringing the total amount of cocaine intercepted by Rentz to approximately 3,000 kilograms.

Fate

Rentz was sunk as part of the Valiant Shield 2016 SINKEX. The exercise was led by aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5). "The ship sank in five hours after sustaining 22 missile hits, finally succumbing to hellfire missiles shots by the “Golden Falcons” of HSC-12."

Awards

  • "outstanding food service" in the Pacific Fleet, 1997 Ney Award winner "Small Afloat."
  • "outstanding food service" in the Pacific Fleet, 2000 Ney runner-up "Small Afloat."
  • 2003 Mobility Energy Efficiency award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • The Ship's Crest

    The colours blue and gold are traditionally associated with the U.S. Navy. The vertical trident represents the sea god Neptune. The crossed missiles indicate the type of ship "Frigate with Guided Missiles." The cross on the shield symbolizes the ship's namesake, Chaplain Rentz. The motto "Dread Nought" tells all to have no fear for the ship is watched over by higher powers.

    Commanding Officers

  • CDR Martin J. Mayer (30 June 1984 – 22 November 1986)
  • CDR James A. Hooper IV (22 November 1986 – 15 December 1988)
  • CDR Kenneth S. Jordan (15 December 1988 – 19 December 1990)
  • CDR Daniel E. Busch (19 December 1990 – 24 July 1992)
  • CDR Bruce T. Van Belle (24 July 1992 – 6 May 1994)
  • CDR Robert E. Johnston (6 May 1994 – 12 July 1995)
  • CDR Gregory J. Allen (12 July 1995 – 10 June 1997)
  • CDR John B. Sturges III (10 June 1997 – 6 June 1998)
  • CDR Benjamin F. Roper (6 June 1998 – 10 December 2000)
  • CDR Michael R. Mara (10 December 2000 – 29 June 2001)
  • CDR Thomas R. Beall (29 June 2001 – 7 February 2003
  • CDR Jeffrey D. Frederick (7 February 2003 – 9 July 2004)
  • CDR Dominic DeScisciolo (9 July 2004 – 28 April 2006)
  • CDR Mark E. Johnson (28 April 2006 – 4 April 2008)
  • CDR David T. Glenister (4 April 2008 – 13 November 2009)
  • CDR Jeffrey A. Miller (13 November 2009 – 20 April 2011)
  • CDR Michael F. Davis (20 April 2011 – 19 October 2012)
  • CDR Lance C. Lantier (19 October 2012 – 23 May 2014)
  • References

    USS Rentz (FFG-46) Wikipedia