Endurance - class landing platform dock The Endurance class landing platform dock ships ( LPD ) 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 ship s ( LST ) . The four ships form the 191 Squadron of the RSN . Planning and development . 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 . Construction of the " Endurance " began in early 1997 , with the keel laid down at ST Marine ' s Benoi yard on 27 March 1997 . Design and construction . The " Endurance " class is 40 % larger than the previous " County " class that she replaced but yet 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 term " multipurpose support vessel " is closer to the intent of its use , given the necessary limited objectives of the RSN as a small naval force operating primarily in littoral waters . The " Endurance " class was built with a heavy emphasis on automation . RSS " Endurance " became the first ship in the world to use official electronic navigational chart s 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 . Operational history . 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 6th USN International Naval Review in New York City , passing through both Panama and Suez canals . The ships actively participate in various multilateral exercises annually . RSS " Resolution " successfully fired a Mistral surface - to - air missile during Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training in 2000 , an annual joint naval exercise between the USN and RSN . RSS " 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 . The ships are active participants in multinational peacekeeping efforts . As part of Singapore ’ s contribution to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq , RSS " Endurance " was sent to the Persian Gulf in October 2003 for two months . RSS " Resolution " followed in November 2004 and RSS " Endeavour " in February 2006 . The ships conducted logistical tasks , such as replenishing supplies for other naval vessels in the Persian Gulf , and conducted patrols to enforce maritime presence . They also served as a platform for helicopter missions and maritime boarding operations missions by teams from other coalition countries when they inspected ships leaving Iraq . The last deployment saw the RSS " Resolution " taking on the expanded role of taking charge of coalition and Iraqi Navy ships to defend Iraq ' s oil platforms . On 1 September 2007 , RSS " Persistence " became the fourth ship to be deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the multinational reconstruction efforts in Iraq . RSS " Resolution " was subsequently tasked for RSN ' s fifth deployment to the Gulf on 30 August 2008 . The ships were also involved in various humanitarian relief operations , such as the tsunami - hit Indonesian province of Aceh in 2004 . Within a few days of the disaster , the RSS " Endurance " sailed to Aceh in Indonesia to deliver emergency supplies and medical personnel to aid in the relief efforts . She was then joined by RSS " Persistence " on 4 January 2005 and RSS " Endeavour " on 16 January . On 12 February 2009 , Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean announced that RSS " Persistence " would join other naval forces off the coast of Somalia for three months in 2009 . Comprising an LST with two Super Puma helicopters on board , the Singapore Armed Forces Task Group has been conducting daily helicopter surveillance flights and sector patrols to deter and disrupt piracy activities . The ship worked with the multinational Combined Task Force 151 to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden . Since then , two additional SAF task groups have been deployed to the Gulf of Aden , RSS " Endurance " from June to October 2010 and RSS " Endeavour " from August 2011 . In October 2013 RSS " Endeavour " participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney , Australia . Export . 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 .