The strongest practical case for tenders was speed. A ship could arrive with workshops, fuel, stores, and accommodation while permanent facilities were still being surveyed, acquired, and built. Establishing even a basic land airfield could take two or three months, with local land acquisition and political consent adding further delay. A large flying boat such as the Short Sunderland was too big for the proposed tender model but could carry urgent spares into a remote base, while a Catalina-sized aircraft better matched the patrol role.
Notable Point · 11:31-14:20
Tenders could open patrol bases before airfields were ready
A support ship could begin flying from a harbor in days while a permanent airfield might require months of surveying and construction.