About this Unit
USS Rentz (FFG-46) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on June 30, 1984. Named in honor of World War II Navy chaplain Lieutenant Commander George S. Rentz, the ship served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her service, USS Rentz participated in numerous operations, including counter-narcotics missions in the Eastern Pacific and multinational exercises such as RIMPAC. After three decades of service, she was decommissioned on May 9, 2014, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Rentz (FFG-46) was named in honor of Chaplain George S. Rentz, a Navy chaplain who posthumously received the Navy Cross for his heroic actions aboard USS Houston (CA-30) during World War II.
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Class and Commission: Rentz was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, commissioned on 30 June 1984 at Long Beach, California.
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Cold War Service: The ship served extensively during the closing years of the Cold War, conducting anti-submarine warfare, convoy escort, and maritime security operations.
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Operation Earnest Will: Rentz participated in Operation Earnest Will in the late 1980s, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers through the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.
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Drug Interdiction: Rentz was involved in multiple counter-narcotic operations in the Eastern Pacific, seizing large quantities of illegal drugs and detaining suspected traffickers.
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Humanitarian Missions: The ship provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, including responding to emergencies in Central and South America.
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First Female XO: In 1996, Commander Kathleen McGrath served as Executive Officer (XO) aboard Rentz, before becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship in 1998.
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Notable Rescue: In 2009, Rentz rescued seven fishermen from a sinking vessel off the coast of Costa Rica, highlighting the ship's versatility and crew readiness.
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Decommissioning: USS Rentz was decommissioned on 9 May 2014 at Naval Base San Diego after nearly 30 years of service.
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Final Fate: In July 2016, Rentz was sunk as a target during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercise, serving one last time as a platform for training.
