Final answer:
Britain produced more Dreadnoughts than Germany, maintaining naval superiority before and during World War I. The Battle of Jutland in 1916 underscored the strengths and limitations of each side's navy, while Britain's strategic use of a blockade effectively leveraged its naval advantage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The naval arms race between Great Britain and Germany prior to World War I was characterized by the development of Dreadnoughts, which were a new class of battleships superior to any before. This technological advancement commenced with the British HMS Dreadnought in 1906, featuring ten 12-inch guns and unprecedented speed due to steam turbines. Despite Germany's attempts to rival British naval power, they were unable to surpass or even match British numbers of Dreadnoughts and other warships. During World War I, the sole major naval battle occurred at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, demonstrating the strength but not decisive dominance of either side's naval capabilities. In terms of production, Germany managed to escalate its economy and military outputs significantly by 1942, although this primarily concerned aircraft rather than naval ships.
At the onset of World War I, data indicated that Britain maintained a navy significantly larger than Germany's, corroborating England's perceived threat from Germany. This difference in naval power led to strategic decisions such as Britain's blockade against Germany. When diplomacy and positioning of alliances came into play, Germany's perceived encirclement prompted them to foster stronger ties with the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary, but their naval strength didn't match up to Britain's. By the early 20th century, despite Germany's growth, Britain, along with its allies, was still the dominant naval power.