USS LST-629

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.[5]

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

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).[6] 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.

In 1999, Excellence, along with RSS Intrepid, was deployed to Timor Leste to provide logistic support to the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping operations.[7] Excellence and her four sister ships were decommissioned from 2000 following the commissioning of RSS Endurance (207).[8]

All four ex-US Navy LSTs are employed as floating sea-defense barricades for Changi Naval Base.[9][10]