USS Rentz (FFG-46)

USS Rentz

(FFG-46)

Guided

Missile

Frigate

The USS Rentz is a multi-mission Guided Missile Frigate. Also known as (FFG-46), she is a warship built for speed and maneuverability and is the 40th vessel constructed of her class. The Rentz is the first warship of any kind to be named in honor of a priest, World War II Chaplain George S. Rentz and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. Powered by two General Electric gas-powered turbines and driven by a single shaft with a variable pitch propeller, the USS Rentz reaches speeds of over 29 knots. Designed to carry helicopters such as the SH-60 Seahawk along with being the most maneuverable type of vessel in the U.S. Naval fleet, the Rentz is capable of operating in a wide variety of situations and environments. Frigates are designed primarily as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare guided missile warships that are intended to provide open ocean escorts. The Rentz is equipped to escort and protect aircraft carrier battle groups, amphibious landing groups, underway replenishment groups, and merchant ship convoys. The USS Rentz will always be ready for the task ahead of them, living up to her motto "Dread Nought". Have no fear for the ship is watched over by higher powers.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2010)- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class Frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) trail the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a simulated straits transit.

The USS Rentz's home port is Naval Base San Diego. It is the largest base of the United States Navy and located in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 57 Navy ships, 2 Coast Guard cutters and home base to 150 separate commands, each having specific and specialized fleet support purposes. The base is comprised of 13 piers stretched over 2,000 land acres and 326 acres of water, Naval Base San Diego also includes outlying entities like Commander, Navy Region Southwest headquarters located in downtown San Diego and the Naval Medical Center in Balboa Park. The total base population is over 20,000 military personnel and more than 6,000 civilians.

History:

1986 Qingdao, China Port

On November 5, 1986 the USS Rentz was part of an historic visit to Qingdao, China. It was the first US Naval vessel to visit China since 1949. The Rentz was accompanied by two other ships, the USS Reeves and USS Oldendorf. The visit was officially hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Previously, the USS Dixie was the last ship to moor in China, departing in 1949 when the communists forced the Americans to leave the Chinese mainland. The last image of a United States Sailor to the citizens of Qingdao in 1949 was that of a Navy enlisted Sailor in the classic "Cracker Jack" uniform. To the amazement of the elder citizen's, the returning Navy enlisted personnel in 1986 wore identical "Cracker Jack" uniforms.

1987 Operation Earnest Will

In July of 1987, the USS Rentz was deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will. Her primary mission consisted of escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The Rentz also provided missile security escorts for the North Persian Gulf Battlegroup destroyers. Safely transiting ships 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. The Rentz has been deployed to the Gulf numerous times since 1987 and has proven she's sea worthy.

The role of helicopters aboard frigates have given them a tactical advantage. The addition of the Naval Tactical Display System, LAMPS helicopters, and the Tactical Towed Array System gives these warships a combat capability far beyond the original expectations. They are well suited for the littoral regions and most war at sea scenarios, involving Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and over the horizon (OTH) tactics. In OTH tactics a Seahawk will establish a secure communications link with the home ship. Flying over the horizon, radar and other information is beamed directly to the operations people aboard the ship who literally see things as if they were aboard the "helo." Though the helo may be detected, the ship itself is nowhere to be seen. When a frigate launches a cruise missile towards a target acquired by the helo over the horizon, they typically will program a course into the missile that is not in a straight line. The target vessel will then have no idea from where the attack came from, such tactics are critical to ships like the USS Rentz.

She is a fine ship and serves her country well. NavyDads salutes the USS Rentz and all who have served aboard her!

USS Rentz Specifications