She was originally built as USS PCE-885, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II.

She was then transferred and commissioned into the Philippine Naval Patrol and was renamed RPS Leyte (E-29) in July 1948.

She was stricken in 1979 after being grounded near Wallace Air Station in Poro Point, La Union.

[1] After undergoing repairs at the Cavite Naval Dockyard in 1979, she was immediately assigned to escort RPS Ang Pangulo, the presidential yacht, which was docked at San Fernando, La Union after being used by President Ferdinand Marcos in a trip to Baguio City.

[3] There were slight differences between the RPS Leyte as compared to some of her sister ships in the Philippine Navy, since her previous configuration was as a patrol craft escort, while the others are configured as minesweepers and patrol craft escort rescue ships.