USS Rentz (FFG-46)

• 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. • Class and Commission: Rentz was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, commissioned on 30 June 1984 at Long Beach, California. • 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. • 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. • Drug Interdiction: Rentz was involved in multiple counter-narcotic operations in the Eastern Pacific, seizing large quantities of illegal drugs and detaining suspected traffickers. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, including responding to emergencies in Central and South America. • 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. • 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. • Decommissioning: USS Rentz was decommissioned on 9 May 2014 at Naval Base San Diego after nearly 30 years of service. • 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.