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.
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