USS Rentz is the fortieth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry- class of guided-missile frigates, the most numerous class of major combatants built for the Navy since World War II. It was built by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. of San Pedro, Calif. The keel was laid September 18, 1982, launched July 16, 1983 and was commissioned at Naval Station Long Beach June 30, 1984. FFG 46 is the only ship to be named after Chaplain George S. Rentz who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his selfless bravery following the loss of USS Houston (CA 30) during the Battle of Sunda Strait in World War II.

In December 1985 USS Rentz moved from Long Beach, California to San Diego. Following initial shakedown cruises and operations, it was assigned to USS Ranger Battle Group.

On November 5, 1986, USS Rentz was part of an historic visit to Qingdao, the first US Naval visit to China since 1949.

In July 1987, FFG 46 deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Earnest Will, and spent over three months escorting commercial tankers in the Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since 1987, The guided-missile frigate has deployed to the Arabian Gulf three additional times.

September 30, 2003 USS Rentz pulled to Naval Station Mayport to offload almost 14,000 pounds of cocaine, seized in August and September, and to conduct a intermediate maintenance availability (IMA) at the mid-point of her six-month deployment with Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

December 16, FFG 46 returned to Naval Station San Diego after a scheduled deployment in the South eastern Pacific in support of the war on drugs.

June 11, USS Rentz recently arrived to Portland for a Fleet Week during the 97th annual Portland Rose Festival.

June 28, 2005 Ninety reported Ecuadorian citizens, who were rescued from a distressed vessel in the Eastern Pacific in June 18, were provided transportation to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, aboard the USS Rentz. While transiting to El Salvador, the guided-missile frigate detected the 60-foot vessel proceeding north at slow speed and discovered the boat to be grossly overloaded with 90 reported Ecuadorian citizens. The nameless and stateless boat had been at sea for 11 days and had minimal amounts of food and water left. It was discovered more than 300 nautical miles from land with a faulty electrical system and was taking on water.

June 8, 2006 FFG 46 pulled to Portland, Oregon, to participate in Rose Festival's Fleet Week, an annual event in which ships from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian navy transit up the Columbia River to take part in the festival.

May 1, 2007 USS Rentz returned to San Diego after completing a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and Philippine Sea. The guided-missile frigate supported the global war on terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines (OEF-P), and Operation Ultimatum while assigned to Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 515.

July 5, USS Rentz, commanded by Cmdr. Mark Johnson, departed San Pedro, California, after a historic three-day port visit to its "birthplace" over the Fourth of July holiday.

July 31, The Rentz arrived in the Port of Seattle for Seafair 2007 "Fleet Week" festivities.

July 31, 2009 USS Rentz, commanded by Cmdr. David Glenister, departed homeport as part of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) CSG.

October 13, FFG 46 is currently participating in a joint training exercise Bright Star 2009, off the coast of Egypt, after a three-day port visit to Alexandria.

November 20, USS Rentz, commanded by Cmdr. Jeffrey A. Miller, responded to a distress call from Motor Vessel Adnan Wahd, which was taking on water while at sea in the Central Arabian Gulf.

November 30, Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge died Nov. 28 after suffering fatal wounds, due to electric shock, while doing repairs in an auxiliary machinery space at 5:47 p.m. The sailor died despite resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead at the Jebel Ali International hospital. The Rentz was in port at Jebel Ali, U.A.E., at the time.

January 31, 2010 The guided-missile frigate anchored off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, for a scheduled port call.

February 28, The Rentz pulled to Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) in Iwakuni, Japan, for a port visit.

March 26, USS Rentz returned to Naval Base San Diego after an eight-month deployment.

December 8, 2010 FFG 46 is currently off the coast of southern California as part of simulated opposition forces to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) CSG Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

May 9, 2011 USS Rentz, commanded by Cmdr. Michael Davis, departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment in support of counter-illicit trafficking in the U.S. Southern Command AoO.

June 1, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Huatulco, Mexico, for a goodwill port call.

September 8, USS Rentz recently pulled into Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for a port call to deliver five Costa Ricans and one Nicaraguan because the United States has a special agreement with Costa Rica to hand over any of its citizens caught at sea. They were transferred from USS Boone (FFG 28) after fishing vessel "Maria Canela" was seized Aug. 28, 200 n.m. from Galapagos Islands, with 1.3 tons of cocaine. Three Colombians will be deported to the U.S. for trial.

November 21, USS Rentz returned to homeport after six-and-a-half month deployment.