USS Dunlap, a 1490-ton destroyer, was built at New York, New York. Commissioned in June 1937, she served in both the Atlantic and Pacific prior to World War II, and in the latter ocean during that conflict. Dunlap participated in carrier raids on Japanese positions in February 1942 and opeated in the Hawaiian area for much of the remainder of that year. Transferred to the South Pacific in late 1942, she took part in the very successful Battle of Vela Gulf in August 1943.

After briefly serving in the Aleutians in November and December 1943, Dunlap supported the Marshalls campaign and then went to the Indian Ocean for operations with the British Eastern Fleet in March-May 1944. She spent most of the rest of the War in the Central Pacific area, taking part in several bombardments of Japanese-held islands, and also participated in the Leyte invasion. The surrender of Japanese forces in the Bonin Islands was held on her deck. Dunlap visited Houston, Texas, for Navy Day celebrations in October 1945. She decommissioned in December 1945 and was sold for scrapping in December 1947.

USS Dunlap was named in honor of Brigadier General Robert H. Dunlap, USMC, (1879-1931), who served with distinction during the first three decades of the Twentieth Century.