Endurance (207) is the lead ship of the Endurance-class landing platform dock of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

RSS Endurance in 2000
History
Singapore
NameEndurance
NamesakeEndurance
BuilderST Engineering
Laid down27 March 1997
Launched14 March 1998
Commissioned18 March 2000
HomeportChangi
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeEndurance-class landing 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

Development

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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.[2][3]

Construction and career

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She was laid down on 27 March 1997 and launched on 14 March 1998. She was commissioned on 18 March 2000 with the hull number 207.

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.[4]

RSS Endurance sailed to Aceh in Indonesia to deliver emergency supplies and medical personnel to aid in the relief efforts after a tsunami. She was then joined by Persistence on 4 January 2005 and Endeavour on 16 January.[5]

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,[6] passing through both Panama and Suez Canal in 2000.

References

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  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. ^ "Endurance Class Landing Ship Tank (LST) - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  3. ^ "Endurance class Amphibious Transport Dock - Republic of Singapore Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  4. ^ "Sea Sabre". Global Security. Archived from the original on 2007-04-22. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  5. ^ "2000 – The LSTs of 191 Squadron". MINDEF. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  6. ^ "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.
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