So when Air Ministry Specification G.4/31 was issued in July 1931 for a Westland Wapiti replacement capable of filling roles as a day or night light bomber, a dive bomber,[a] an army co-operation, reconnaissance or casualty evacuation aircraft, modifying the specification in October that year to add the roles of torpedo bomber and maritime reconnaissance, it attracted considerable attention from British manufacturers, with 30 designs being submitted from 12 manufacturers.

[2][3][4] Only three companies were awarded single prototype contracts, but another five decided to submit private venture machines.

The wings were fabric covered over a structure built up around rolled-steel strip spars and aluminium alloy ribs.

The main undercarriage was split, a necessary feature in a torpedo bomber carrying its long weapon under its fuselage; there was a small tailwheel.

At the nose, the fuselage diameter decreased to the engine mounting, holding a supercharged 810 hp (600 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IV.