The development of atomic bombs profoundly changed military technology, and in its earliest days seemed to threaten the existence of the Navy.  Navy planes were too light to carry nuclear weapons and aircraft carrier runways too short to launch a jet with such a heavy payload.  For a time it appeared that all aviation assets of Navy and Marine Corps would be turned over to the newly created Air Force, but Admiral Nimitz defended the service vigorously and promoted the development of new ship designs and technologies.