Endurance-class landing platform dock

The Endurance-class tank landing ships (LST) are the largest class of ships in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were designed and built by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine to replace the old County-class tank landing ships. The four ships form the Third Flotilla of the RSN.

RSS Persistence in the Singapore Strait.
Class overview
NameEndurance
BuildersST Engineering (Marine)
Operators
Preceded byCounty class
Completed5
Active5
General characteristics
TypeLanding platform dock
Displacement
  • Standard: 6,500 t (6,400 long tons; 7,200 short tons)
  • Full load: 8,500 t (8,400 long tons; 9,400 short tons)
Length141.0 m (462 ft 7 in)
Beam21.0 m (68 ft 11 in)
Draught5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
Ramps2 × (bow and stern)
Installed power
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • 4 × 13 m (43 ft) Fast Craft Equipment & Utility (FCEU) on davits
  • 2 × 25 m (82 ft) Fast Craft Utility (FCU) inside well deck
Capacity18 tanks, 20 vehicles and bulk cargo
Troops> 350–500
Crew65 (8 officers and 57 men)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carriedAS 332M Super Puma or AS532UL/AL Cougar or CH-47SD Chinook helicopters
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck and enclosed hangar for up to 2 medium-lift helicopters
Notes
  • Ships in class include:
  • RSS Endurance (207)
  • RSS Resolution (208)
  • RSS Persistence (209)
  • RSS Endeavour (210)
  • HTMS Angthong (LPD-791)

Planning and development

The navy's intention to purchase the Endurance class was revealed by former Defence Minister Dr. Tony Tan during his visit to Tuas Naval Base on 3 August 1996. These ships were to replace the five ex-United States Navy (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
Name Pennant number Launched Commissioned
RSS Endurance20714 March 199818 March 2000
RSS Resolution2081 August 199818 March 2000
RSS Persistence20913 March 19997 April 2001
RSS Endeavour21012 February 20007 April 2001
HTMS AngthongLPD-79121 March 201119 April 2012[2]

Design and construction
A Republic of Singapore Air Force Super Puma takes off from the flight deck of Resolution. Visible in the foreground is the ASIST system

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.[3] 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 charts with the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to circumnavigate the world.[4]

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 (ASIST) system which helps in landing, securing, manoeuvring and traversing a helicopter, and eliminates the need for deck personnel to secure helicopters upon landing.[5] All these result in a high degree of automation, with a reduced manning requirement of 65 crew members for a 6,500-tonne ship.[6]

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. It is longer than the Endurance class (retrospectively named the Endurance-140), with a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations.[7] 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 fighter aircraft, it is thought that such an LHD could be used as a light aircraft carrier. The STOVL F-35B needs a minimum of 168 m (551 ft) 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.[8]

The Endurance-170, a further development of the LHD variant, has been offered to the UAE Navy. 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.[9]

Operational history
Endeavour at Garden Island during the International Fleet Review 2013

The ships provide sea transportation for personnel and equipment for Singapore Armed Forces' overseas training, as well as a training platform for RSN's midshipmen. 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,[10] passing through both Panama and Suez 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.[11] 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.[12]

The ships are active participants in multinational peacekeeping efforts. As part of Singapore's contribution to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Endurance was sent to the Persian Gulf in October 2003 for two months.[13] Resolution followed in November 2004 and Endeavour in February 2006.[14][15] 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.[16] 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.[17] Resolution was subsequently tasked for RSN's fifth deployment to the Gulf on 30 August 2008.[18]

The ships were also involved in various humanitarian relief operations, such as the tsunami-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.[19] Persistence also featured later in support of the efforts finding Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501.[20]

On 12 February 2009, Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean announced that Persistence would join other naval forces off the coast of Somalia 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 to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden.[21] 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.[22]

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.[23]

Export
The Royal Thai Navy ship HTMS Angthong (LPD-791) navigates the waters off the coast of Thailand as part of an amphibious capabilities demonstration in support of exercise Cobra Gold (CG) 2016.

On 11 November 2008, a SGD 200 million contract was signed between ST Marine and Thailand for the sale of one unit of the Endurance-class LPD and its associated landing craft.[24][25] 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.[26]

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 Khamthorn Pumhiran, Commander-In-Chief of Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The delivery of the ship was completed on 19 April 2012.[2][27]

See also

Comparable ships

References

Citations
  1. "RSN – Assets – Weapons". Ministry of Defence (Singapore) (MINDEF). 23 July 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  2. "Navy officially welcomes HTMS Ang Thong to fleet", Bangkok Post (20 Apr 2012)
  3. "Characteristics of the Endurance class LST". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2004-09-26.
  4. "International Dimension". United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  5. "DSTA equips RSN with technologically advanced Landing Ship Tanks". DSTA. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  6. "Factsheet – New Landing Ship Tank". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  7. "Endurance 160 LHD". Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  8. Koh Swee Lean Collin, Bernard Fook Weng Loo (2015-03-18). "Exposed: Singapore's Aircraft Carrier in Disguise". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  9. "EIMDEX Asia 2017: ST Marine Unveiled the Endurance 170 LHD". Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  10. "Speech by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence, on the Occasion of the Commissioning Ceremony for the RSN Landing Ship Tank, RSS Endurance & RSS Resolution Held on Saturday, 18 March 2000 at 10:00 AM at Tuas Naval Base". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
  11. "Landing Ship Tanks". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  12. "Sea Sabre". Global Security. Archived from the original on 2007-04-22. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  13. "SAF Deploys LST and C-130 to Assist in Reconstruction of Iraq". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  14. "SAF Landing Ship Tank Deployment to Aid in the Reconstruction of Iraq". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  15. "SAF Landing Ship Tank Deployment to Aid in the Reconstruction of Iraq". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  16. "A taste of home after successful Gulf deployment". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  17. "SAF Landing Ship Tank Deployment to the Gulf". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  18. "Fifth Deployment of Landing Ship Tank to the Gulf to Support Reconstruction of Iraq". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  19. "2000 – The LSTs of 191 Squadron". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  20. "Singapore Navy sends 3 vessels to help in QZ8501 search". Mediacorp News Group. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  21. "Singapore to join anti-piracy efforts in Gulf of Aden". Channel NewsAsia. 12 February 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  22. "Third SAF task group sails for Gulf of Aden". Channel NewsAsia. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  23. "Singapore sends 5th navy ship for AirAsia QZ8501 search". CNA. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015.
  24. "ST Engineering's Marine Arm Secures S$200m Contract To Design And Build Landing Platform Dock". STE. Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  25. "ST Marine wins contract for Thai amphibious vessels". Jane's Navy International. November 2008.
  26. "C-Series Combat System from Terma to the Royal Thai Navy's Landing Platform Dock". Terma. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  27. "Royal Thai Navy receives HTMS Ang Thong" Archived 2013-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, Naval Technology (20 Apr 2012)
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