 In October 1940, the British Air Ministry issued Specification S.12/40 to Supermarine and Fairey for a catapult-launched, amphibian, reconnaissance and spotter aircraft to replace the Supermarine Walrus and Supermarine Sea Otter.An order for three prototypes of Supermarine's aircraft was issued in March 1943.There was an interruption in design due to the necessity of moving the Supermarine design office, after the bombing of the facility at Woolston.