The construction table separates reasons to fear France from its battleship output. Geography, the French Army, and the possibility of carrying troops across the Channel made France strategically relevant to Britain. French battleship construction was still too limited to match the Royal Navy fleet for fleet, and even the Channel Squadron could probably hold a two-to-one numerical advantage while Britain retained forces elsewhere. Threat assessment has to distinguish proximity and invasion risk from the industrial capacity to contest a global navy.
Notable Point · 31:33-32:35
French proximity versus construction strength
France remained strategically relevant across the Channel even though its battleship output did not approach the Royal Navy's worldwide strength.