Larger guns and the limits of German naval laws

German 12-inch guns were effective weapons in a programme focused on the Royal Navy. Britain also had to respond to larger guns and new designs elsewhere, including American, Italian, and Japanese developments. Its move toward 13.5-inch and 15-inch weapons therefore needs to be understood within a worldwide competition. Germany's multi-year naval laws gave construction a stable programme but imposed cost limits that could prevent increases in gun calibre. A procurement system suited to army requirements was less adaptable to warships whose machinery, armament, and costs changed rapidly. Predictable orders could become a constraint when a navy wanted to incorporate newer technology.