Shell defects and shared technology in the naval arms race

Earlier British 13.5-inch shells receive a harsher assessment than the imperfect 15-inch shells. Greenboy ammunition is the familiar example, but the improvements after Jutland affected several calibres. British reliance on German detonator supplies is presented as a vulnerability discovered during the naval race and a reason to develop domestic production. In the reverse direction, German dependence on British-built Parsons turbines is linked to wartime shortages of spares and ships becoming less available later in World War I. Qualitative competition among Britain, the United States, Japan, Italy, and Austria-Hungary also involved frequent purchases of machinery and shipbuilding work from one another. The rivalry therefore included technical cooperation and commercial dependence, creating supply problems when former trading partners became enemies.