Why an Anglo-American naval race would emphasize technology

Which navies were most likely to enter a battleship numbers race?

Britain and America were more prone to technological competition; France and Italy were better matched for a numerical race, while Japan risked bankruptcy against the United States.

Anglo-American naval competition repeatedly focused on the largest or most capable weapons rather than raw ship totals. That pattern points toward a technology race between Britain and the United States. France and Italy offer a more plausible contest between similarly sized fleets. Japan could challenge the United States, but a prolonged numerical race risked bankruptcy.