Most importantly, planes from Lexington returned with a set of low oblique photos of the lagoon side of Betio, and these proved to be most useful in planning the assault on Tarawa.

On 5–6 October, the largest fast carrier force organized to that time, comprising Essex, Yorktown, Lexington, Independence, Cowpens, and Belleau Wood, Rear Adm. Alfred E. Montgomery in command, struck at Wake Island.

Just before sundown on 19 November, Ringgold thrust ahead of the main body of the attack force to secure a radar fix on a turning point just north of Mavana.

Word had been passed to watch for the submarine, but it was believed that she had moved westward that afternoon to rescue a downed flier, and that she would submerge once she encountered friendly forces.

Minesweepers Pursuit and Requisite, under cover of a smoke screen, swept a channel from the transport area into the lagoon during the bombardment, and they used their own guns to bark replies to Japanese shore batteries.

Larger craft could not yet venture into the lagoon, and the four ships provided all the frontal fire that the beach defenses received, with additional ammunition being lightered in to them before the day ended.

They provided close on-call gunfire support, while carrier aircraft bombed and strafed Japanese positions almost continuously until sunset.

Ringgold anchored inside the lagoon, Anderson cruised the southern shore, and Frazier was off the butt end of the island to provide call fire through the night.

After completing repairs in December, Ringgold took part in the assault and capture of Kwajalein and of Eniwetok Atolls during January and February 1944, where she furnished close-in fire support for the landing forces.

On 20 October 1944, American forces returned to the Philippines, and Ringgold again furnished fire support, this time for the landings on Panaon Island off southern Leyte.

After repairs at Ulithi and Pearl Harbor, Ringgold rejoined TF 58 in support of the Okinawa operation, joining up 4 June 1945.

On 1 July the ship again put to sea, this time with Admiral William Halsey's 3d Fleet Fast Carrier Task Force for strikes against the Japanese homeland.

On the night of 15–16 July, with Destroyer Squadron 25 (DesRon 25) and Cruiser Division 17 (CruDiv 17), Ringgold participated in an antishipping sweep 6 miles (9.7 km) off the northern coast of Honshū, Japan.

Ordered to escort the aircraft carrier Antietam to Apra Harbor, Guam, 22 August, she arrived there four days later and underwent repairs.

Steaming to Okinawa on 16 September, Ringgold took on 83 passengers for Pearl Harbor, and then proceeded to the east coast of the United States.

Designated for transfer to the Federal Republic of Germany under the military assistance program, she underwent modernization and outfitting at the Charleston Naval Shipyard.