Britain carried much of the Commonwealth's naval burden, though trade and industry connected to India and the colonies helped fund the system. London wanted the dominions to spend more on defence, but larger contributions also gave them a stronger claim to shape imperial strategy. The Royal Canadian Navy was tiny between the wars, while Australia fielded only about five or six cruisers and six aging destroyers in the estimate given here. Those forces could not cover the Pacific or absorb heavy wartime attrition without Royal Navy reinforcement. The exchange shows why imperial fleet totals depended on politics, maintenance, and the willingness of self-governing dominions to participate.
Chapter · 18:11-22:31
The Commonwealth burden behind Britain's naval totals
British naval planning covered a global Commonwealth whose dominion fleets remained small and whose governments expected a voice in deciding where their forces would serve.