How would an 1878 warship disaster that gave Wilhelm cold feet affect the early German Navy and its naval laws?
Short answerThe first naval laws might disappear, delaying major funding for decades and encouraging a later fleet built around quality rather than volume.
NotesA fatal royal association with an early warship disaster could prevent the first naval laws and force the young German Navy to spend decades rebuilding political credibility. If major funding arrived only around the turn of the century, Germany might enter the qualitative rather than quantitative naval race, producing smaller numbers of more capable ships. A late start could also invite greater Swedish and Bofors involvement in German capital-ship development.