USS Rentz

USS Rentz (FFG-46) was a United States Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate. She was named for George S. Rentz, a World War II Navy Chaplain, 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.

USS Rentz (FFG-46)
USS Rentz (FFG-46), off San Diego, California, 4 April 1995.
History
United States
NameRentz
NamesakeChaplain George S. Rentz
Awarded28 April 1980
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down18 September 1982
Launched16 July 1983
Sponsored byMrs. Jean R. Lansing
Commissioned30 June 1984
Decommissioned23 May 2014
Stricken23 May 2014
HomeportNaval Base San Diego
Identification
Motto"Dread Nought"
FateSunk as part of Valiant Shield 2016 SINKEX
BadgeUSS Rentz crest
General characteristics
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
TypeFrigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draft22 feet (6.7 m)
Decks9
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters
Aviation facilities

History

Rentz had her keel 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.[1] In attendance were Jean Lansing and survivors of Houston.

In December 1985, Rentz moved from Long Beach, California to San Diego, California. Following initial shakedown cruises and operations, Rentz was assigned to the USS Ranger Carrier Strike Group (CSG). On 5 November 1986, Rentz was part of an historic visit to Qingdao, China, the first US Naval visit to China since 1949. Rentz was accompanied by cruiser USS Reeves and destroyer USS Oldendorf. The visit was officially hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[2] 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 operation "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 Persian Gulf numerous times since 1987.

On 28 November 2009 while the ship was moored in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates as part of the USS Nimitz CSG, a crewman was killed while performing repairs to the ship. According to the Navy, a 3rd Class Petty Officer was electrocuted while working in an auxiliary machinery space.[3][4] In response to the mishap, the Navy ordered the entire fleet to inspect ship electrical enclosures.[5]

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 such intercept, bringing the total amount of cocaine seized by Rentz to approximately 3,000 kilograms.[6]

Fate

Rentz was sunk as part of the 2016 SINKEX exercise Valiant Shield. The exercise was led by aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5).

"Live fire from ships and aircraft participating in Valiant Shield 2016 sank the decommissioned USS Rentz (FFG 46) in waters 30,000 feet deep and 117 nautical miles northeast of Guam Sept. 13 . . . The ship sank in five hours after sustaining 22 missile hits, finally succumbing to hellfire missiles shots by the “Golden Falcons” of HSC-12."[7]

Awards
  • "Outstanding food service" in the Pacific Fleet, 1997 Ney Award winner "Small Afloat."[8]
  • "Outstanding food service" in the Pacific Fleet, 2000 Ney runner-up "Small Afloat."[9]
  • 2003 Mobility Energy Efficiency award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.[10]

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.

References
  1. Nguyen, Lisa. "Martin Mayer Collection (AFC/2001/001/49389), Veterans History Project". Library of Congress. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  2. "After 37-year absence, U.S. vessels visit China". The New York Times: A3. 6 November 1986.
  3. "Release".
  4. Military Times, Rentz sailor electrocuted aboard ship, 30 November 2009.
  5. Liewer, Steve, "Sailor’s Death Prompts Navy To Act", San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 January 2010.
  6. USS Rentz Intercepts 313 Kilograms of Cocaine Worth More than $10M
  7. Sexton, Sarah B. "Ships, aircraft conduct exercise Valiant Shield SINKEX". Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. United States Navy. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. 1997 Ney
  9. 2000 Ney
  10. 2003 Mobility Energy Efficiency

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here. This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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