The USS Phelps (DD-360) named for Thomas Stowell Phelps was laid down 2 January 1934 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Mass.; launched 18 July 1935; sponsored by Mrs. Richard A. Kearny; and commissioned 26 February 1936, Comdr. Albert H. Rooks in command.

Following peacetime duty in the Pacific, the USS Phelps was moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, she was able to shoot down one Japanese plane. Phelps immediately got underway and patrolled the area in company with other ships, ready to undertake action against enemy ships. She aided the carrier USS Lexington in air battles against the Japanese near Port Moresby, New Guinea, in February and March 1942.

Suffering no casualties in the Battle of the Coral Sea 4 to 8 May 1942, she was ordered to sink Lexington (CV-2) on 8 May 1942, to prevent enemy capture of the carrier, that was badly damaged during the battle and was ordered abandoned.

In June 1942 she was in company with the task force protecting American carriers that dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway. In August 1942 she guarded forces invading Guadalcanal. After a visit to the west coast in October, she participated in landings upon Attu, Alaska, in May 1943. After bombarding Kiska, Alaska, she was ordered to Pearl Harbor for refueling and replacements prior to her next operation. Once again at sea, she was ordered to the Gilbert Islands where she provided gunfire support for troops landing at Makin Atoll in November 1943. In the Marshall Islands Campaign in February 1944, she bombarded Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In March she guarded tankers during a strike on the Palau Islands. In June she bombarded Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas, protecting American forces that had landed there on the 15th. During this operation Phelps was hit with shells from 8" shore batteries and continued to lend fire support while she was undergoing temporary repairs.

Following duty at Saipan, she steamed via the Panama Canal to Charleston, S.C., for repairs from damage incurred at Saipan and updating of armament, arriving 2 August 1944. Soon after repairs were completed she departed Norfolk Va. In November, she undertook new duties escorting a convoy to Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria. After three more escort voyages to the Mediterranean in 1945, she arrived at New York 10 June 1945.

Decommissioned 6 November 1945, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 28 January 1947, and scrapped by Northern Metals Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Phelps received twelve battle stars for World War II service.