Russia wanted the status of a leading naval power, while its spending priorities, technology, and industrial capacity placed it behind several faster-moving fleets. Germany was ahead, France was probably ahead, and Japan was advancing in technology acquisition. Italy also supplied a relevant comparison. The Royal Navy's technological profile and procurement pace operated at a substantially different scale.
Notable Point · 8:09-9:13
Prestige could not close Russia's capability gap
Comparisons with Germany, France, Japan, Italy, and Britain show how Russia's great-power image ran ahead of its naval technology and procurement pace.