Endurance-class landing platform dock
The Endurance class landing platform dock ships are the biggest class of ships in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were designed and built locally by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine to replace the old County class tank landing ships (LST). Each ship is fitted with a well dock which can accommodate four landing crafts, as well as a flight deck which can accommodate two medium lift helicopters [1]. 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 qualifies the Endurance class more as amphibious transport docks.
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 2000 International Naval Review in New York City [2]. The ships are also actively involved in humanitarian and disaster relief operations, notably in East Timor, the Persian Gulf and the tsunami-hit Indonesian province of Aceh. The four ships form the 191 Squadron of the RSN.
References
- "Characteristics of the Endurance class LST". MINDEF website. Retrieved September 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "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 website. Retrieved October 17.
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