Six 2,100-tonners Hutchins,
Pringle,
Stanly,
Stevens,
Halford and
Leutze, were earmarked as floatplane tenders.
Stanly,
Stevens and
Halford were completed in this configuration, but it proved impractical, so they were soon refitted, initially with 20mm singles between 5-inch mounts 53 and 54. Installation of the catapult on the other three ships was suspended before they were commissioned.
