Fleet economics behind the Grand Fleet's scale

Grand Fleet strength depended partly on the economics of the Anglo-German naval race. Germany was already compromising its fleet structure because further naval spending competed with army requirements and could not simply rise without limit. Britain also fought over naval expenditure, but its political system ultimately supplied a larger force. The R-class programme illustrates the difference: the Treasury wanted four ships, the Navy wanted six, and the political outcome produced eight. British budget conflict could still end in expansion.