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.Class and type Endurance-class landing platform dockDisplacement
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)Length 141.0 m (462 ft 7 in)Beam 21.0 m (68 ft 11 in)Draught 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)Ramps 2 × (bow and stern)Installed power 4 × Ruston 6RK215 diesel generators, each producing 875 kW (1,173 hp)Total output: 3,500 kW (4,690 shp)Propulsion
Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement2 × Ruston 16RK 270 diesels, each producing 5,500 kW (7,400 hp), coupled to two Kamewa controllable-pitch propellersTotal output: 11,000 kW (14,800 shp)Speed In excess of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)Range 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)Boats & landingcraft carried
4 × 13 m (43 ft) Fast Craft Equipment & Utility (FCEU) on davits2 × 25 m (82 ft) Fast Craft Utility (FCU) inside well deckCapacity 18 tanks, 20 vehicles and bulk cargoTroops > 350–500Crew 65 (8 officers and 57 men)Sensors andprocessing systems
Search radar: IAI/ELTA EL/M-2238Navigation radar: Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 (I band)Weapon control: CS Defense NAJIR 2000 electro-optronic directorElectronic warfare& decoys
ESM/ECM: RAFAEL RAN 1101Decoys: 2 × GEC Marconi Marine Shield III 102 mm sextuple fixed chaff/decoy launcherArmament
Anti-air: Mistral missiles launched from 2 × Simbad twin launcher mountsMain gun: 1 × Oto Melara 76 mm super rapid gunAutocannons: 2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster Mk 38 Mod 2 (with stabilised Typhoon weapon sighting system, mounted amidships on port and starboard side)[1]Machine guns: 4 × STK 50MG 12.7 mm (0.50 in) HMGsAircraft carried AS 332M Super Puma or AS532UL/AL Cougar or CH-47SD Chinook helicoptersAviation facilities Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to 2 medium-lift helicopters
