When is a navy larger than its country needs?

Which powerful navy is much larger than its country's circumstances would seem to justify?

Germany is a possible example, although its sea communications justify substantial naval investment. The wider argument is that countries more often have navies too small for their commitments.

Germany initially looks like a candidate because its major land threats compete with naval spending. Its extensive sea lines of communication and overseas commitments provide a counterargument. Chinese and Russian fleets are also considered in relation to defensive bastion requirements. The broader assessment is that undersized fleets are more common than fleets larger than their countries need. The United States illustrates why being a continental power does not remove the case for a large navy. Its fleet provides strategic depth by meeting threats far from American territory.