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USS Rentz

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USS Rentz (FFG-46)
USS Rentz (FFG-46), off San Diego, California, 4 April 1995.
History
United States of America
NameRentz
NamesakeChaplain George S. Rentz
Awarded28 April 1980
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down18 September 1982
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 typeTemplate:Sclass-
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

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.

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).[1] 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).[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 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[3] was electrocuted while working in an auxiliary machinery space.[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 bust, bringing the total amount of cocaine intercepted by Rentz to approximately 3,000 kilograms.[6]

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). "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

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[8]

  • 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

  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". New York Times: A3. 6 November 1986.
  3. ^ "[1]
  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. ^ http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ffg46/Pages/USSRentzIntercepts313KilogramsofCocaineWorthMorethan$10Million.aspx#.VGzHf2dkxRU
  7. ^ Sexton, Sarah B. "Ships, aircraft conduct exercise Valiant Shield SINKEX". Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. United States Navy. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Decommissioning Ceremony: USS RENTZ (FFG 46)". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

Public Domain 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. Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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