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This period marked a notable transition in military strategy, as the United States recognized its vulnerability against a powerful Japanese navy that could launch surprise attacks across the Pacific. The Navy's conventional assets, primarily scout cruisers, were deemed inadequate due to their slow speed and limited numbers, creating a need for a more efficient reconnaissance solution. Admiral William A. Moffett, the chief of the U.S. Bureau of Aeronautics, proposed rigid airships as the ultimate solution, offering speed and range that far surpassed conventional naval vessels and aircraft.