Calling the pre-1914 competition a dreadnought race is too narrow. Navies were simultaneously competing in cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and the industrial systems needed to build them. Russia's strongest relative achievements appeared in destroyers and undersea craft even while its capital ships arrived late. The wider naval race gives a different picture from dreadnought counts alone.
Notable Point · 1:52:54-1:53:12
Why the prewar naval race was more than dreadnoughts
The familiar dreadnought-race label hides simultaneous competition in cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and other naval systems.