Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia, USA
STATUS:
Awarded: February 1, 1954 Laid down: August 2, 1954 Launched: September 29, 1956 Commissioned: August 10, 1957 Decommissioned: July 10, 1993 Fate: planned for use as a museum-ship
Other Memories I served on board the USS Ranger initially as the Watch Officer in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Module and later served as the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) in the Combat Information Center (CIC).
I redesigned the layout of the TAO position within CIC. The remodel was completed in 1986. Also, in 1986, filming of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home took place on board Ranger, in port, with lights and canopies set up to mimic the Enterprise. Filming took about a week.
On 14 July 1987, Ranger started her "Pearl" Anniversary Cruise. During this cruise, Ranger relieved Midway and her carrier group in the Indian Ocean. During this period, Ranger took part in Operation Earnest Will under which the Kuwait tankers were reflagged under US colors.
On 19 October 1987, Ranger took part in Operation Nimble Archer, an attack on two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf by US Navy forces. The attack was a response to Iran's missile attack three days earlier on the MV Sea Isle City, a reflagged Kuwaiti oil tanker at anchor off Kuwait. The action occurred during Operation Earnest Will, the effort to protect Kuwaiti shipping amid the Iran-Iraq War. Air cover was provided by William H. Standley, two F-14 Tomcat fighters, and an E-2 Hawkeye from Ranger.