Germany could retain its effective 11-inch/50 guns while concentrating on British ships armed with 12-inch weapons. The two guns were close enough in capability that a preference depended on which characteristics mattered most. Naval laws helped structure an Anglo-German race in ship numbers. Competition in dreadnought and battlecruiser quality extended across the world's navies, so that bilateral comparison could not explain the whole design race.
Notable Point · 30:45-32:19
German 11-inch guns in a worldwide design race
German 11-inch/50 guns compared well with British 12-inch weapons, but competition in warship quality extended beyond those two navies.