The American and German naval cases carried different strategic meanings for Britain. The United States had a two-ocean requirement and an obvious reason to divide its fleet. Germany, by contrast, was described as a nominal ally whose land-frontier problems did not clearly require a large battle fleet. In this reading, British sea power could already help contain France if France attacked Germany. A sudden German building programme therefore demanded a different explanation from American naval strength.
Notable Point · 46:23-46:53
Why German naval expansion looked different from American strength
America's two-ocean commitments and Germany's continental position gave their naval growth different meanings for British planners.