Navy Knowledge Builder Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The launching of the Dreadnought in 1906 marked a significant turning point in naval warfare and the dynamics of naval power among nations. With its revolutionary design that included an all-big-gun armament and steam turbine propulsion, the Dreadnought made previous battleship classes obsolete almost overnight.

As a result, countries began to feel the pressure to modernize and expand their own navies to match the capabilities of the Dreadnought, leading to an intense and competitive buildup of battleships among the world's major powers. This period, often referred to as the naval arms race, was characterized by nations investing heavily in newer, more powerful vessels to maintain a balance of power at sea.

The launch of the Dreadnought essentially reset the standard for naval strength, prompting other nations to scramble to produce their own dreadnought-class battleships, thus initiating a new arms race that contributed to the geopolitical tensions leading up to World War I.