Infrastructure behind the battlecruiser race

Global battlecruiser operations depended on suitable support facilities, construction capacity, and crews. British ships needed support across routes served by Singapore, the Bahamas, Alexandria, Malta, Gibraltar, the Falklands, Cape Town, Bombay, and Madras. The facilities available at those locations also affected what ships could be built for worldwide service. Germany faced severe wartime shortages as the army absorbed construction workers, potential crews, and industrial resources. Britain started with a larger shipbuilding base and could continue producing ships despite its own wartime demands.