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 | |
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Builders Vigor Shipyards, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division | ||
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
History
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.
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."
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.
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.
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
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.