CORAL SEA: May-Aug 1942
On 7 May, PHELPS was to enter the hardest battle of her career, "The Battle of the Coral Sea". 8 May, PHELPS was stationed 3000 yards off LEXINGTON's starboard bow. At 0943 PHELPS crew went to their battle stations as LEXINGTON and YORKTOWN launched their striking group. The first planes sighted by PHELPS were at 1104, about 300 feet of altitude and making a long glide. Some of the enemy planes were being engaged by friendly fire. The enemy's main attack was centered upon LEXINGTON. YORKTOWN separated from the LEX during the initial phase of the attack. At about 1120 the LEX took a bomb hit, starting a fire on her forecastle; by 1130 she appeared to have extinguished the fire. A friendly plane crashed some 4000 yards from PHELPS and she went to the rescue; Lieutenant JG Richard G. Crommelin, USN, (fighter pilot YORKTOWN), rescued in good condition.
At 1741 PHELPS was ordered to assist in the rescue of LEXINGTON personnel who had been forced to abandon ship. Numerous men were in the water hanging to rafts or rubber boats - some few swimming alone. Very few were noted to be lowering themselves over the LEXINGTON's side; her superstructure, flight deck and planes were burning with intensity. There was a considerable amount of automatic weapon ammunition exploding continuously. At 1807 and 1812, violent explosions occurred in the carrier throwing much debris skyward.
PHELPS boat bearing Lt Cmdr J. C. Daniel, USN, Staff Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE and Ensign R.A. Sweatt, USNR, USS PHELPS, made a final sweep of the area to search for any remaining survivors. They proceeded close in, searching fore and aft abreast the carrier and well under her stem. No additional survivors were found. The Commanding Officer was satisfied that all survivors had been rescued.
Having previously been ordered to sink the LEXINGTON by torpedoes, PHELPS proceeded to a firing position and waited for other vessels to clear. PHELPS took station 1560 yards on carrier's port beam and fired three Torpedoes, depth setting 50 feet: 1st hit abreast of bridge structure and exploded, (LEXINGTON appeared to settle further by the head and increased her port list), 2nd aimed amidships but no explosion noted, (believe exploder mechanism failed to function), 3rd hit amidships, LEXINGTON appeared to take a considerably greater port list; port edge of flight deck then estimated to be about 10 feet from water.
From the reaction of the LEXINGTON to the number three torpedo hit, it appeared likely that the damage already inflicted was insufficient to sink her in a reasonably short time, if at all. In view of the time element and situation currently existing, the Squadron Commander ordered an additional torpedo to be fired into the carrier's starboard side. PHELPS took position 1200 yards with target angle approximately 60 degree and launched two additional torpedoes. It is uncertain whether the 4th torpedo hit and/or functioned. An explosion was observed at or about the end of the estimated time of run, but no reverberation was heard or felt. However, she appeared to be sinking quite rapidly at the time with a large portion of fire extinguished.
Shortly after the 5th torpedo was released, the LEXINGTON disappeared beneath the surface of the water and smoke cleared rapidly. It is believed she sank well down by the head and listed hard over to port. It is not known whether the fifth and last torpedo exploded or not. However, about two minutes after release, two extremely violent explosions were felt in rapid succession. At that time PHELPS was swinging to port making 10 knots. First reaction was that PHELPS had either been torpedoed or that depth charges had been dropped close aboard. Engines were stopped and as soon as reports had been received from all stations that no damage had been suffered, the ship proceeded on southerly course at 25 knots to rendezvous with Task Force. The shocks of the explosion had been felt by other vessels of the Task Force, then several miles distant. It was the Commanding Officer's opinion that the source of the explosions was in the LEXINGTON.
Though PHELPS did not receive any casualties from this battle, she witnessed one of the better known battles of World War II. It also served as a grim reminder to PHELPS' crew that a long, hard road to victory lay ahead.