The scenario distinguishes technical expertise from policy goals. Years on the naval committee gave Tillman enough knowledge to recognize a wholly unusable design, but it did not make maximum combat efficiency his first priority. A merely adequate Omaha-class cruiser still provided useful service and immediate work at Charleston. Its limitations would later justify an improved successor, keeping the replacement cycle and its associated contracts moving.
Notable Point · 42:48-44:42
Why merely adequate cruisers serve Tillman's plan
Tillman's acquired naval knowledge would not necessarily produce a better Omaha class because an adequate ship creates demand for a later replacement.