"Ranger" left the Persian Gulf on 4 December 1992 and steamed at high speed to the coast of Somalia. "Ranger" played a significant role in the massive relief effort for starving Somalis in Operation Restore Hope. The "Ranger"/CVW-2 team provided photo and visual reconnaissance, airborne air traffic control, logistics support, and on-call close air support for Navy and Marine amphibious forces. Throughout Operations Southern Watch and Restore Hope, "Ranger" took 63 digital photographs which were sent by International Marine Satellite to the Navy Office of Information within hours of being taken. This was the first time digital pictures were successfully transmitted from a US Navy ship at sea.