The second Bristol was launched on 29 October 1944 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding, San Pedro, California, sponsored by Mrs. August Frederick Eberly; and commissioned on 17 March 1945.

She operated along the east coast until February 1947, when she steamed to England for a cruise in European waters that lasted until August.

During the summer and fall of 1950, Bristol visited several Caribbean ports, with interim periods of training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The ship was later modified with a triple Hsiung Feng I launcher and associated RTN 10X radar to become a missile destroyer;[1] on New Year's Day in 1976, the hull number was changed to DD-988.

[2] On 7 February 1991, Hua Yang, another Sumner-class destroyer, and 8 missile boats took part in a naval exercise off of Kaohsiung.