 In 1926 the Commonwealth Government ordered a seaplane tender, , and the RAAF was instructed to provide an air wing for the ship once she was completed; the service had not received any warning that the ship was to be ordered, and was surprised by this decision.At this time No.101 Flight's Seagull IIIs were the only RAAF aircraft which were potentially suitable for being operated from a seaplane tender, though "Albatross" designers were not informed of this.