Avenger was ordered on 29 June 1982, laid down on 3 June 1983 by the Peterson Shipbuilders Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., launched on 15 June 1985, and commissioned on 12 September 1987.[3]
In 1993, Avenger shifted homeports to the newly constructed Naval Station Ingleside, Texas.[3] Since that time she deployed to the Eastern Atlantic in 1993 and 1995, Mediterranean Sea in 1997 and 1999. In 2001 Avenger deployed to the Eastern Pacific via the Panama Canal and conducted Joint, Combined, and Bilateral exercises and operations on the West Coast. Late in 2001, Avenger conducted test operations of a revolutionary jam-resistant electronic navigation system. In 2004, the Avenger deployed to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), and in October of that year the ship returned to her homeport of Ingleside, Texas. Avenger completed her most significant modernization in the summer of 2008. In 2009, Avenger shifted her homeport to San Diego and then in December became permanently forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Later that same year the ship commenced her first deployment around the western Pacific.
On 30 September 2014, USS Avenger was decommissioned at San Diego, California. As of 2019, she is a part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet.