USS Ranger (CV-4) was an aircraft carrier used by the United States Navy in World War II. Ranger was the fourth aircraft carrier developed and saw combat in the Atlantic theater of the war. Ranger was the first purpose-built carrier made and was the only carrier in her class, aptly named the Ranger class.
Description[]
Ranger was the fourth carrier created by the United States Navy. This was the first purpose-built carrier, unlike the first three carriers that were modified from other vessels. Ranger appeared similar to its sisters, with a wooden deck. Ranger had a displacement of 14,810 tons, a length of 222.5 meters, and a beam of 33.4 meters. She was propelled by 6 boilers and 2 steam turbines, whose stacks can be seen on the flight deck.
Ranger had a defensive armament of forty .50 cal machine guns and eight 5-inch anti-aircraft guns, mounted on the gallery, the bow, and fantail. The carrier could carry 76 aircraft normally but could carry a maximum of 86 aircraft.
History[]
The ship that would be called Ranger was approved as an act of Congress in February 1929. On 25 February 1933, Ranger was launched from Newport News, Virginia. In June 1934, she was commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia, and from 1934-1939, conducted various training and exercises both in the Atlantic and Pacific. Starting in 1939, Ranger commenced Neutrality Patrol operations in the Atlantic, operating mostly from Bermuda.
In October 1942, Ranger was activated as commander of the naval task force covering the amphibious landings during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. On 8 November 1942, Ranger saw combat during the amphibious operations and the ensuing Naval Battle of Casablanca. During this battle, Ranger’s aircraft attacked the battleship Jean Bart, the cruiser Primaguet, a destroyer leader, and four French destroyers. Her bomber wings also attacked French airbases in Rabat and Port Lyautey; all belonging to the Axis-affiliated Vichy French military.
In late 1943, Ranger was dispatched to work with the British Home Fleet, and saw combat during Operation Leader, the bombing of German shipping off the coast of Norway. During the operation, aircraft from Ranger helped sink several merchant ships, a tanker, and a troop transport.
Starting in January 1944, Ranger became a carrier for training new squadrons, along with ferrying them to either North Africa or Europe. She continued to do this until after the end of the war, when she was decommissioned in Norfolk in October 1946. Shortly thereafter, the carrier was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrap in January 1947.