The Republic of Singapore Navy's intention to purchase the Endurance class was revealed by former Defence Minister Tony Tan during his visit to Tuas Naval Base on 3 August 1996.

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.

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,[10] passing through both Panama and Suez canals.

[11] 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.

[16] On 1 September 2007, Persistence became the fourth ship to be deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the multinational reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Within a few days of the disaster, Endurance sailed to Aceh in Indonesia to deliver emergency supplies and medical personnel to aid in the relief efforts.

[20] On 12 February 2009, Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean announced that Persistence would join other naval forces off the coast of Somalia for three months in 2009.

[21] Since then, two additional SAF task groups have been deployed to the Gulf of Aden, Endurance from June to October 2010 and Endeavour from August 2011.

[23] 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.

[26] 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).