The outbreak of war on 7 December 1941 found the Phelps moored to the USS Dobbin, at Pearl Harbor, receiving steam, electricity, and water, as all her machinery had been opened for repairs.

Engineer officer, Lt. Tripensee, senior officer aboard, got all hands to battle stations when the gangway watch reported planes diving on Ford Island. Joe Harrison, Electrician's Mate 1st class, switched to emergency diesel while gunners were firing at the enemy planes within 4 minutes after the attack. Under the supervision of two Chief Water Tenders, she was steaming on all 4 boilers is less than 5 hours, and with other ships left on patrol and search outside the harbor.

She continued this duty until 31 January 1942, at which time she joined Task Force 11, built around the USS Lexington, sailing toward New G uinea in an effort to stop the Japanese advance toward Australia. With the Force under almost constant attack from enemy planes, the Phelps gunners joined in destroying 16 enemy planes. While on this sortie, she was in the attack at Salamua and Lee, New Guinea, returning to Pearl Harbor 26 March 1942.

On 15 April 1942, after repairs, the Phelps, with Task Force 11 and Task Force 17, operated off Guadalcanal, and then engaged in the hardest battle of her career, the Battle of the Coral Sea. Intensive enemy plane attacks on 7 May resulted in hits on the carrier Lexington, and the Phelps was ordered to sink the abandoned ship. Proceeding, on 11 May, to Noumea, New Caledonia, she transferred survivors and wounded, and then, with other ships, sailed back to Pearl, arriving 27 May. Sailing again, the following day, she joined Task Force 16, which proceeded to join in a surprise flank attack on a large force of Japanese ships. Rescue missions and anti-aircraft attacks over a period of a week resulted in commendation from the Commander of the Task Force, and Phelps was then ordered to return to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 12 June 1942.

Leaving 7 July 1942, further pilot-rescue missions and anti-aircraft engagements occurred as the force proceeded to Guadalcanal. Supporting bombardment and anti-aircraft fire was the constant duty of the Phelps at Bougainville, Guadalcanal and Tulagi, until on 6 September, the Task Force entered Tongatabu Harbor and anchored. On 12 September the Task Force stood out for Pearl Harbor, where, on 28 September, the Phelps joined a Task Unit bound for San Francisco, arriving 5 October 1942.

After receiving repairs and supplies, training exercises kept the crew busy for nearly 4 months in the San Diego - Los Angeles area.

On 7 April, 1943, the Phelps sailed for Adak, Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands, later playing a prominent part as control vessel and participating in the bombardment of Attu. She escaped unscathed on 22 June when enemy planes fired torpedoes that passed under her keel. She remained in the Aleutians, furnishing fire support and bombardment at Kiska and enemy installations in Chicuhagof Harbor, until 5 September 1943, when she left for Hawaii. After brief repairs, she operated off Midway Island, in the capture of Makin Island, as control vessel for landing boats, and on anti-submarine duty, returning to Pearl Harbor 5 December 1943.

On 14 December 1943, Lt. Commander Martineau relieved Commander J.E. Edwards as Commanding Officer.

Sailing for San Francisco 15 December 1943, she arrived 21 December for overhaul. After preparing, at San Diego, for the Marshall Islands operation, with training exercises and repairs, the Phelps put into Pearl Harbor on 21 January 1944.

When she arrived at the Marshall Islands on 30 January 1944, the Phelps was assigned to close fire support, during which she neutralized Ennuebing Island and made direct hits on enemy batteries on Roi. Continued duty in the area as anti-submarine patrol and shore bombardment took her to Kawajalein Atoll 17 March 1944, and on 17 February, with the Eniwetok Expeditionary Force. She received repairs and training at Majuro, and joined in the strike on Milli Atoll 17 March. On 21 March, in the strike on Palau Island, Phelps received a machinery casualty, and worked screening tankers. Returning to Majuro, she was part of the most imoressive fleet the world has ever known. After a scheduled overhaul was postponed, Phelps arrived at Kawajalein on 9 June, enrout to Saipan. She arrived at Saipan 14 June 1944, and was assigned to a night harrassing group in the transport area. On the 16th and 17th she delivered fire support, and on the 18th was suddenly taken under accurate fire by an enemy shore battery, suffering 2 direct hits, with 18 men wounded, and scattered fire aboard. While anchored, and being repaired, she remained broadside to the beach and gave 842 rounds of 5 inch ammunition in close fire support. A 2-gun salve from the Phelps 5 inch guns made direct hits on enemy small craft.

Remaining on fire support duty 4 days longer, the Phelps then escorted a group of transports to Pearl Harbor, arriving 3 July 1944.

Sailing independently to San Diego, 6 July 1944, a change of orders routed her to Charleston, South Carolina, by way of the Canal Zone, which she passed through 27 July 1944, and arrived in Charleston on 2 August 1944.

26 August found Lt. Commander Robert B. Erly relieving Lt. Commander Martineau as Commanding Officer.

Armament alterations and overhaul kept the Phelps at Charleston until 7 November 1944, when she embarked for Norflok, West Virginia, and duty with Task Force USG 60, as flagship for the Commander. On 11 November she stood out for the first of four convoy escorts to Mediterranean ports, which were completed 10 June 1945.

After 3 months of alterations and intensive training, the surrender of the Japanese forces on 2 September 1945, caused assignment to the Commander of the 3rd Naval District, and on 6 November 1945, the USS Phelps was decomissioned. Ultimately, she was scrapped and sold to the Gillette Safty Razor Co.

So ended the distinguished career of a mighty destroyer, a sleek versatile fighter in surface action, anti-aircraft and shore bombardment, depth-charging against submarines, and escort duty, both in the Pacific and the cold, wind-swept North Atlantic, truly loved by the men who walked her decks as "THE MIGHTY P".....