Endurance-class landing platform dock

Basic information

Type:

Amphibious warfare ship

Operators:

Republic of Singapore Navy

Royal Thai Navy

Country of build:

Singapore

Builder:

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering)

Planned:

Completed:

In service:

2000 – present (24 years)

Ship measurements

Displacement:

8,500 t

Length:

141 m

Beam:

21 m

Machine

Propulsion system:

CODAD

Propulsion:

4 * Ruston 6RK215 diesel generators, each producing 875 kW (1,173 hp)
2 * Ruston 16RK 270 diesels, each producing 5,500 kW (7,400 hp), coupled to two Kamewa controllable-pitch propellers

Speed:

15 knots

Range:

5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Personnel

Complement:

Combat assets

Electronics:

Search radar: IAI/ELTA EL/M-2238
Navigation radar: Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 (I band)
Weapon control: CS Defense NAJIR 2000 electro-optronic director
ESM/ECM: RAFAEL RAN 1101
Decoys: 2 * GEC Marconi Marine Shield III 102 mm sextuple fixed chaff/decoy launcher

Armament:

Mistral missiles launched from 2 * Simbad twin launcher mounts
1 * Oto Melara 76 mm super rapid gun
2 * 25mm M242 Bushmaster Mk 38 Mod 2 (with stabilised Typhoon weapon sighting system, mounted amidships on port and starboard side)
4 * STK 50MG 12.7 mm (0.50 in) HMGs

Aircraft:

AS 332M Super Puma or AS532UL/AL Cougar or CH-47SD Chinook helicopters

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 (LST). The four ships form the 191 Squadron of the RSN.

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 charts with the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to circumnavigate 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 (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.

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.

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