Of the
Endurance-class with as sister ships the
Endurance,
Resolution and
Endeavour forming the 191 Squadron. Also called landing platform dock ship. Ordered in August 1996 to replace aged American County-class LST’s with as main task logistics support duties. This class is designed in cooperation with the American firm Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA. The
Persistence was launched on 13 March 1999 at ST Marine‘s Benoi yard, Singapore and commissioned on 7 April 2001. With a displacement of 6,000-8,500 (full load) tons are her dimensions 141,0 x 21,0 x 5, (mean) metres. The armament consists of 2 twin rail Simbad point defence SAM systems using Mistral missiles, 1-7,6cm gun and 2x1-12,7mm machine guns. The 4x700 kw diesel engines provided 2,800 kw total allowing a maximum speed of 20 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles with a speed of 15 knots or 10,400 nautical miles with a speed of 12 knots. Her crew numbered 65 men but she is fitted out for accommodation for another 35 men and able to transport 350 soldiers, 18 tanks and 20 other vehicles. She is fitted out with 4 EP 03-class landing crafts and 2 RIB’s. Fitted out with a flight deck and an enclosed hangar fir maximum 2 helicopters.
