USS LST-629

USS LST-629 originally was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and again in the late 1952. She was sold to the Republic of Singapore Navy and renamed RSS Excellence (L-202).

Construction and commissioning
USS LST-629 was laid down on 13 April 1944 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 8 July 1944 and commissioned on 28 July 1944.

1940s
During World War II, LST-629 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and participated in Invasion of Lingayen Gulf from 8 to 18 January 1945. She also participating in the Mindanao Islands landing from 17 to 23 April 1945. LST-629 participated in Okinawa Gunto Operations, the invasion of southern Okinawa on 12 to 30 June 1945. LST-629 was assigned to China service from 20 to 26 December 1945 and was decommissioned on 4 March 1946, assigned for Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) and redesignated as Q083.

1950s–1960s
LST-629 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952 and redesignated as USNS T-LST-629.

1970s
T-LST-629 was on loan since 1 July 1971 but finally sold to Singapore on 5 December 1975 and was renamed as RSS Excellence (L-202). Excellence, along with four other ex-US Navy LSTs sold to Singapore by the US at around the same period of time, served as part of the RSN's 191 Squadron of the 3rd Flotilla, with its main roles being transporting Singapore Army troops and personnel to training facilities abroad (in foreign countries such as Taiwan), rescue-and-aid operations, supply missions as well as for officer-cadet training programmes conducted overseas.

1980s–1990s
In 1999, Excellence, along with RSS Intrepid, was deployed to Timor Leste to provide logistic support to the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping operations. Excellence and her four sister ships were decommissioned from 2000 following the commissioning of RSS Endurance (207).

2000s–2010s
All four ex-US Navy LSTs are employed as floating sea-defense barricades for Changi Naval Base.

Awards and honors

 * China Service Medal
 * American Campaign Medal
 * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3 awards)
 * World War II Victory Medal
 * Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
 * Philippines Liberation Medal (2 awards)