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The Naval Arms Race
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The Naval Defence Act
The Naval Defence Act
Britain had recognised its complacency in naval matters and instituted the first Naval Defence Act in 1889. The Act promised the provision of 70 new warships and a renewed commitment to naval supremacy.
In 1898, as a response to the expansion of the Russian navy, Britain set its standard of naval might to be superior in power and equal in numbers of the fleets of any two other countries. At this time Britain possessed a fleet of 29 modern battleships and was in the process of building 12 more.
German Postcard: The Kaiser and Officers of the German Navy at Fleet Manoeuvres. (RNM)
In comparison, Germany had only 13 battleships with 5 new ones on the blocks. By the completion of the German Fleet Law, however, the German total had crept up to 19 battleships, 12 heavy cruisers and 30 light cruisers by 1903.
German Secretary of State for the Imperial Naval Department, Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz intended to give Germany a fleet strong enough to deter Britain from confronting it for fear of losing the mastery of the seas.
By 1900 Tirpitz set about working on the second Fleet Law, which caused much concern in Britain and directly challenged the naval supremacy of the Royal Navy. It was recognised that the German Imperial Army was the best in the world and much stronger and larger than the British Army.
Britain’s capability in defending its country lay in the Royal Navy. If Britain was defeated on the seas, then a German invasion would severely threaten the country.
The first sign of the British reacting to the German threat could be seen in 1902 when Britain expanded its Home Fleet in order to better protect British waters.
HM Dockyard Rosyth, an artist's impression c.1910s. (RNM)
A further measure came in 1903 when the Admiralty announced plans to build a new naval base in Rosyth, on the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
The new base, unlike all other previous British bases that faced France, would face northeast towards Germany. Tacticians had designed the base in order to secure Britain a presence in the North Sea ready for any German attack.
