In 1909 the Germans were believed to be speeding up their production of Dreadnoughts. Public opinion in Britain became alarmed by this. There was belief, that the only reason Germany was increasing it’s fleet was that it wanted to dominate Britain and France.
Britain was planning to build four Dreadnoughts in 1909, but there were demands for this to be doubled by groups who wanted to increase spending on the navy, using slogans “We want eight and we won’t wait” The Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911 increased Britain’s fears of Germany’s aims and, for the first time, the possibility of war against Germany became much more of a reality
After 1911 the naval race continued but it was less intense because Britain had gone further ahead. Germany did not realise the threat that it’s navy was to Britain. the naval rivalry did not directly cause the war, but it did mean that, if a war came, Britain was more than likely going to fight against Germany.
