Steel Battleships The naval race is sparked by an American naval historian (top right), who publishes an influential book on the importance of naval power in history. Although his book is a study of wooden sailing warships, of the old triple-decked variety, the lessons apply equally well to modern vessels. Within 15 years of its publication, all four of the world's leading steel-producing nations have at least 20 first-generation battleships, including America. Britain has 40. A new race has now begun to build second-generation warships.

	Excessive? Britain starts off the warship race with the largest fleet of first-generation battleships (dark silhouettes, at left). She also gets a head start in Round #2 of the race, with an early spurt of second-generation battleships (light silhouettes, at right). Few people suspect that a major world conflict looms just around the corner, but Britain will be ready with a world-dominant fleet when World War I suddenly erupts, in 1914.
	America Joins the Race America has almost no navy at all when the race begins, in 1890, but begins building new steel warships at a rapid clip. This is largely due to the energetic efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, who studied naval power at Harvard before serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, prior to becoming President. By 1910, US Navy spending is five times what it had been 20 years earlier. Both Germany and France have battleship fleets of similar size. To compare with the British fleet, scroll up to the previous image.
	Showing the Flag By 1910, the new US Navy is a match for any in the world, except the British. Young Teddy Roosevelt has a special fondness for the navy, and an unusual appetite for military adventure. A year before becoming President, he makes perhaps his most famous statement. 'Speak softly and carry a big stick. You will go far.' His 'big stick' is the navy, which he parades across the globe in 1907, with 16 battleships (top center). This unprecedented show-the-flag cruise is partly meant to deter Japan from further expansion in the Pacific. Japan has just defeated Russia in a major conflict over control of Korea, after annihilating the entire Russian fleet in a decisive battle.
	Selling the Product The new warships consume huge amounts of the finest steel. Before World War I breaks out, major ship-builders advertise their products openly to all potential buyers, from whatever nation. The British sell ships and engines to many nations. The Germans provide steel armor even to the British, right up to the beginning of hostilities between these two nations.
	Shells vs Armor Steel hulls, guns and armor all require large amounts of steel. The steel castings which support the main gun turrets are each as heavy as 15 steam locomotives (lower left).