USS LST-629

	Ship's bell of RSS Excellence
History
United States
Name	LST-629
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca
Laid down	13 April 1944
Launched	8 July 1944
Commissioned	28 July 1944
Renamed	T-LST-629
Decommissioned	4 March 1946
Recommissioned	31 March 1952
Decommissioned	15 June 1973
Fate	Sold to Republic of Singapore Navy, 5 December 1975
Singapore
Name	Excellence
Namesake	Excellence
Acquired	5 December 1975
Commissioned	1 July 1971 (on loan)
Decommissioned	1999
Homeport	Changi Naval Base
Identification	Pennant number: L-202
Fate	Serving as a floating sea-defense barricade at Changi Naval Base.
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light; 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full;
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded :; 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft; Loaded :; 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft;
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 × LCVPs
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns ; 12 × 20 mm guns ;

Last updated September 28, 2023

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).^[1]^[2]

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.^[3]^[4]

Service in United States Navy

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.^[5]

1950s–1960s

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

Service in Republic of Singapore Navy

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).^[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.

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.^[7]Excellence and her four sister ships were decommissioned from 2000 following the commissioning of RSS Endurance (207).^[8]

2000s–2010s

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

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto a low slope beach with no docks or piers. The shallow draft and bow doors and ramps enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach. The LST had a highly specialized design that enabled ocean crossings as well as shore groundings. The bow had a large door that could open, deploy a ramp and unload vehicles. The LST had a flat keel that allowed the ship to be beached and stay upright. The twin propellers and rudders had protection from grounding. The LSTs served across the globe during World War II including in the Pacific War and in the European theatre.

USS LST/LST(H)-482/Branch County (LST-482) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Later renamed for Branch County, Michigan, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-801 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-1104 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-734 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS DeKalb County (LST-715) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in six states, it was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-689 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Late in her career she was renamed Daggett County (LST-689)—after Daggett County, Utah, the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name—but never saw active service under that name.

USS Floyd County (LST-762) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, and Virginia, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS Garrett County (LST-786) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Garrett County, Maryland, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS Holmes County (LST-836) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Florida, Mississippi, and Ohio, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-766 was an LST-542-class Landing Ship, Tank in the United States Navy during World War II that took part in the amphibious landings during the war in the Far East.

USS LST-447 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

USS LST-929/LST(H)-929 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-930/LST(H)-930 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-949/LST(H)-949 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-951/LST(H)-951 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-579 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 Intrepid (L-203).

USS LST-613 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. In 1976, she was sold to the Republic of Singapore Navy and renamed RSS Persistence (L-205).

USS LST-47 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy as BRP Tarlac (LT-500).

References

↑ "Tank Landing Ship LST". navsource.org. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ "USS LST 629 (LST 629) Crew List — Navybuddies.com Crew List - Reunite with old US Navy Buddies". USS LST 629 (LST 629) Crew List — Navybuddies.com Crew List - Reunite with old US Navy Buddies. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ "LST-629". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ "USS LST-629 (LST-629) Crew Roster". www.hullnumber.com. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ "USS LST 629 (LST 629) of the US Navy - American Tank landing ship of the LST (Mk 2) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ "Histroy [sic] of L202" . Retrieved 2020-07-28.
↑ Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise (PDF). Working Papers. Vol. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-642-29676-4. ISSN 1834-7231 . Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ "Factsheet - Citations for RSS Excellence & RSS Intrepid" (PDF). Ministry of Defence (Singapore). National Archives of Singapore. 23 November 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ Eric, Wertheim (30 March 2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press. p. 703. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2 . Retrieved 22 March 2011.
↑ Decom LSTs as CNB floating defense barricade