Dreadnought as a move in a four-power technology race

Germany's numbers contest with Britain differed from the wider technology race that helped produce HMS Dreadnought. German naval funding competed with the army, so the fleet sought an attainable force level. Italy, encouraged by Vittorio Cuniberti's ideas, and the United States were more willing to explore ships carrying many large guns. The Royal Navy valued technological initiative and remembered how HMS Warrior and HMS Black Prince had eclipsed France's Gloire. Dreadnought was a pre-emptive British move to set the next standard before another navy did.