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The ''Endurance''-class tank landing ships (LST) are the largest class of ships in the
Republic of Singapore Navy The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the Naval warfare, maritime Military branch, service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for defending the country against any seaborne threats and as a guarantor of its sea lines of ...
(RSN). They were designed and built by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine to replace the old County-class
tank landing ships A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in Front line, front-line Land warfare, ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong Vehicle armour, armour, and battlefield Mobility (milit ...
. The four ships form the Third Flotilla of the RSN.


Planning and development

The
Republic of Singapore Navy The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the Naval warfare, maritime Military branch, service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for defending the country against any seaborne threats and as a guarantor of its sea lines of ...
's intention to purchase the ''Endurance'' class was revealed by former Defence Minister Tony Tan during his visit to Tuas Naval Base on 3 August 1996. These ships were to replace the five ex-
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
(USN) County-class LSTs, which were acquired by Singapore from the United States in the 1970s. ST Marine was awarded the government contract to design and build the four ships – a significant milestone for the local defence and shipbuilding industries given the scale and extensiveness of the programme. Construction of ''Endurance'' began in early 1997, with the keel laid down at ST Marine's Benoi yard on 27 March 1997.


List of ships


Design and construction

The ''Endurance'' class is 40% larger than the previous ''County''-class that they replaced, and travels almost twice as fast. Each ship is fitted with a well dock which can accommodate four landing craft, as well as a flight deck which can accommodate two medium lift helicopters. While the RSN describes the ''Endurance''-class as LSTs, they lack the beaching capability traditionally associated with LSTs and their well docks and flight decks qualify the ''Endurance''-class more as amphibious transport docks. The ''Endurance'' class was built with a heavy emphasis on automation. ''Endurance'' became the first ship in the world to use official
electronic navigational chart An electronic navigational chart (ENC) is an official database created by a national hydrographic office for use with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). ECDIS and ENCs are the primary means of electronic navigation on c ...
s with the
Electronic Chart Display and Information System An electronic navigational chart (ENC) is an official database created by a national hydrographic office for use with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). ECDIS and ENCs are the primary means of electronic navigation on c ...
(ECDIS) to
circumnavigate Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical body (e.g. a planet or moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth. The first circumnavigation of the Earth was the Magellan Exped ...
the world. The integrated bridge system allows the operator to access the navigation and communications systems, the ECDIS and other vital systems needed to sail the ship effectively, while the Ship Control, Monitoring and Management System controls, monitors and manages most of the platforms on board. The ships are also equipped with an
Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse The Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system is a shipboard helicopter landing system developed by Canadian company Indal Technologies (now part of US conglomerate Curtiss-Wright). ASIST completed sea trials by July 31, 1992, an ...
(ASIST) system which helps in landing, securing, manoeuvring and traversing a helicopter, and eliminates the need for deck personnel to secure helicopters upon landing. All these result in a high degree of automation, with a reduced manning requirement of 65 crew members for a 6,500-tonne ship.


Proposed landing helicopter dock variant

The ''Endurance-160'' is a proposed landing helicopter dock (LHD) variant of the ''Endurance'' class. A model of it was first displayed at the 2014
Singapore Airshow The Singapore Airshow is a biennial aerospace event held in Singapore, which debuted in 2008. It hosts high-level government and military delegations, as well as senior corporate executives around the world, while serving as a global event for ...
. It is longer than the ''Endurance'' class (retrospectively named the ''Endurance-140''), with a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations. The Singapore Ministry of Defence would neither confirm nor deny that a vessel of the type would be built. As Singapore is interested in acquiring the F-35B
STOVL A short take-off and vertical landing aircraft (STOVL aircraft) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is able to take off from a short runway (or take off vertically if it does not have a heavy payload) and land vertically (i.e. with no runway). The ...
fighter aircraft, it is thought that such an LHD could be used as a light
aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...
. The STOVL F-35B needs a minimum of of runway to take off. It is thought that Singapore would need one to maintain sea lines of communication, as well as cope with fewer air bases in the future. However, operating the F-35B would incur greater procurement and operating costs compared to the conventional takeoff variants and greater fuel consumption needed for vertical landing, which could result in fewer aircraft being purchased. The design of the ''Endurance'' class would also have to be considerably revamped with a larger space to operate and store fixed-wing aircraft with a larger elevator and a ski ramp. The ''Endurance-170'', a further development of the LHD variant, has been offered to the
UAE Navy The United Arab Emirates Navy (UAEN) is the Navy, naval branch of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. It is small force of about 3,000 personnel. It maintains 12 well-equipped coastal patrol boats and eight missile boats. Although primarily c ...
. It would have a full load displacement of 19,000 tons. New features include a 76mm gun, vertical launching systems, RAM close-in weapon systems, and a hangar able to accommodate up to 10 medium size helicopters.


Operational history

The ships provide sea transportation for personnel and equipment for
Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A component of the Ministry of Defence (Singapore), Ministry of D ...
' overseas training, as well as a training platform for RSN's
midshipmen A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afric ...
. RSS ''Endurance'' became the first RSN ship to circumnavigate the globe when it participated in the 6th USN International Naval Review in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, passing through both
Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...
and
Suez Suez (, , , ) is a Port#Seaport, seaport city with a population of about 800,000 in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal. It is the capital and largest c ...
canals. The ships actively participate in various multilateral exercises annually. ''Resolution'' successfully fired a Mistral surface-to-air missile during Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training in 2000, an annual joint naval exercise between the USN and RSN. ''Endurance'' participated as both a compliant and non-compliant vessel for boarding teams during Exercise Sea Sabre in 2004 as part of the
Proliferation Security Initiative The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a global effort that aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. ...
. The ships are active participants in multinational
peacekeeping Peacekeeping comprises activities, especially military ones, intended to create conditions that favor lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed w ...
efforts. As part of Singapore's contribution to the reconstruction efforts in
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
, ''Endurance'' was sent to the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...
in October 2003 for two months. ''Resolution'' followed in November 2004 and ''Endeavour'' in February 2006. The ships conducted logistical tasks, such as replenishing supplies for other naval vessels in the Persian Gulf, and conducted patrols to enforce maritime presence. They also served as a platform for helicopter missions and maritime boarding operations missions by teams from other coalition countries when they inspected ships leaving Iraq. The last deployment saw ''Resolution'' taking on the expanded role of taking charge of coalition and Iraqi Navy ships to defend Iraq's oil platforms. On 1 September 2007, ''Persistence'' became the fourth ship to be deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the multinational reconstruction efforts in Iraq. ''Resolution'' was subsequently tasked for RSN's fifth deployment to the Gulf on 30 August 2008. The ships were also involved in various humanitarian relief operations, such as the
tsunami A tsunami ( ; from , ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions (including detonations, ...
-hit Indonesian province of Aceh in 2004. Within a few days of the disaster, ''Endurance'' sailed to Aceh in Indonesia to deliver emergency supplies and medical personnel to aid in the relief efforts. She was then joined by ''Persistence'' on 4 January 2005 and ''Endeavour'' on 16 January. ''Persistence'' also featured later in support of the efforts finding Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501. On 12 February 2009, Minister of Defence
Teo Chee Hean Teo Chee Hean ( zh, s=张志贤, poj=Tioⁿ Chì-hiân, p=Zhāng Zhìxián, first=poj; born 27 December 1954) is a Singaporean former politician and two-star rear-admiral who served as Senior Minister of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for ...
announced that ''Persistence'' would join other naval forces off the coast of
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
for three months in 2009. Comprising an LST with two Super Puma helicopters on board, the Singapore Armed Forces Task Group has been conducting daily helicopter surveillance flights and sector patrols to deter and disrupt piracy activities. The ship worked with the multinational
Combined Task Force 151 Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) is a multinational naval task force, set up in 2009 as a response to piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia. Its mission is to disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea and to engag ...
to protect shipping in the
Gulf of Aden The Gulf of Aden (; ) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channel, the Socotra Archipelago, Puntland in Somalia and Somaliland to the south. ...
. Since then, two additional SAF task groups have been deployed to the Gulf of Aden, ''Endurance'' from June to October 2010 and ''Endeavour'' from August 2011. In December 2014, ''Persistence'' was deployed in the search for Airasia Flight QZ8501 after it crashed into the Java Sea on 28 December 2014; along with the RSN ships ''Supreme'', ''Valour'', and ''Kallang'', MV ''Swift Rescue'', and two Lockheed C-130H Hercules.


Export

On 11 November 2008, a SGD 200 million contract was signed between ST Marine and
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
for the sale of one unit of the ''Endurance''-class LPD and its associated landing craft. The LPD would use the Terma C-Series system, which includes the C-Flex combat management system, C-Search radar suite which includes the Scanter 4100 radar and IFF, and the C-Fire fire control system. On 21 March 2011, the new ship was christened HTMS ''Angthong'' (pennant number LPD-791) and was launched from ST Marine's dockyard by the wife of
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...
Khamthorn Pumhiran, Commander-In-Chief of
Royal Thai Navy The Royal Thai Navy (Abbreviation, Abrv: RTN, ทร.; , ) is the Navy, naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as the father of the Royal N ...
(RTN). The delivery of the ship was completed on 19 April 2012."Navy officially welcomes HTMS Ang Thong to fleet"
Bangkok Post The ''Bangkok Post'' is an English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. It is published in broadsheet and digital formats. The first issue was sold on 1 August 1946. It had four pages and cost one baht, a considerable amount ...
(20 Apr 2012)
"Royal Thai Navy receives HTMS Ang Thong"
, Naval Technology (20 Apr 2012)


Gallery

File:RSS Endeavour (210) on sea.jpg, Port stern view of ''Endeavour'' at sea. File:US Navy 111115-N-TU894-077 The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is underway with the Singapor Navy tank landing ship RSS Endeavour (2.jpg, underway with RSS ''Endeavour'' in the
Gulf of Aden The Gulf of Aden (; ) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channel, the Socotra Archipelago, Puntland in Somalia and Somaliland to the south. ...
. File:RSS Endeavour entering Visakhapatnam.jpg, RSS ''Endeavour'' near
Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
. File:US Navy 110220-N-6692A-058 The amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) passes along side the Singapore navy endurance-class amphibious tr.jpg, RSS ''Resolution'' at anchor in the
Gulf of Thailand The Gulf of Thailand (), historically known as the Gulf of Siam (), is a shallow inlet adjacent to the southwestern South China Sea, bounded between the southwestern shores of the Indochinese Peninsula and the northern half of the Malay Peninsula. ...
, with passing behind during Cobra Gold '11.


See also

* – sold to RSN in 1975 as the original RSS ''Endurance'' (
pennant number In the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations, ships are identified by pennant number (an internationalisation of ''pendant number'', which it was called before 1948). Historically, naval ships flew a flag that iden ...
L201).


Comparable ships

* * * * *
Type 071 amphibious transport dock The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its prev ...


References


Citations


External links


MINDEF – Republic of Singapore Navy – Naval AssetsST Marine product list: 141m Landing Ship TankBrochure for 141m Landing Ship TankEndurance Class Landing Ship Tank (LST), Singapore(Naval technology)
{{Singapore-designed weapons Amphibious warfare vessel classes Endurance class landing platform dock ship Endurance class landing platform dock ship Republic of Singapore Navy