How predictable German construction could ease the naval race

Would a German programme of two battleships and four heavy cruisers per year, with 35 cm guns planned for 1910 and 38 cm guns for 1914, have been sensible?

Yes. It would create a strong fleet, while its predictable rate would let Britain plan a proportional response instead of reacting to surprises.

The proposed construction rhythm is judged sensible because it creates a substantial German fleet without sudden surprises. Building two battleships and four heavy cruisers each year gives the Royal Navy a known challenge to plan against. The illustrative British response is four battleships and eight heavy cruisers, preserving a numerical margin through predictable annual construction. The race remains expensive, but consistent programmes reduce the alarm caused by abrupt accelerations. The argument concerns predictability and planning, rather than a guarantee that naval competition would disappear.