Endurance-class

Summary

Description

The Endurance-class tank landing ships are the largest vessels of their kind within the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were conceived to substitute the aging County-class tank landing ships, partaking in the Third Flotilla of the RSN. The intent to procure the class was made public by Dr. Tony Tan, former Defence Minister, during his visit to Tuas Naval Base on August 3, 1996. The design and construction responsibilities were undertaken by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine, signaling a significant step forward for the domestic defense and shipbuilding industries. The first keel of the Endurance-class was laid at ST Marine's Benoi yard in March 1997, marking the start of the vessel's construction.

The Endurance-class ships signify a substantial upgrade over their predecessors, the County-class, being 40% larger and nearly twice as swift. Designed with an advanced degree of automation, these ships reduce crew requirements, with a standard complement of 65 for a vessel weighing 6,500 tonnes. Features such as the spacecraft-like well dock facilitating four landing crafts, and the ability to house two mid-sized lifting helicopters on the flight deck, stand them apart. The Endurance-class also integrated the world's first official electronic navigational charts, and they are well-equipped with systems such as the ECDIS, integrated bridge system, and Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system to enhance helicopter operations while minimizing the need for deck personnel.

There have been proposals for an evolved landing helicopter dock variant named Endurance-160, which was showcased at the 2014 Singapore Airshow. This concept likely relates to Singapore's interest in potentially acquiring F-35B STOVL fighter aircraft, as it would necessitate modifications to operate and house fixed-wing aircraft more effectively, including a larger elevator and a ski ramp.

Throughout their operational history, these ships have significantly contributed to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), offering transportation for personnel and equipment and supporting the RSN's midshipmen training. The RSS Endurance is noted for its historic circumnavigation of the globe. The class has been actively engaged in multilateral exercises, peacekeeping duties, and humanitarian relief operations, including deployments to the Persian Gulf and involvement in the reconstruction efforts of Iraq and tsunami relief in Aceh, Indonesia. They also played a role in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the search for Airasia Flight QZ8501.

On the international stage, the Endurance-class saw an export when a 200 million SGD contract was signed between ST Marine and Thailand on November 11, 2008. The new vessel christened HTMS Angthong was launched in March 2011 and formally delivered to the Royal Thai Navy in April 2012.

Technical specifications