The first ship to be designed and built from the keel-up as an aircraft carrier. Due to her slow speed compared to the flattops stationed in the Pacific, she spent most of her early-war time in the Atlantic. Along with the 4 Sangamon-class escort carriers, she participated in Operation Torch: the allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942.
Mid-war she conducted patrols along the British Isles and raids on German shipping along the Norwegian coast. Late-war she acted as a training carrier as well as transporting aircraft and personnel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ranger_(CV-4)