As time passed, by 1908 the East African Navy had built two dreadnoughts, second only to the deep-pocketed British Royal Navy. Although dreadnoughts were more advanced warships than pre-dreadnoughts, a mere two and a half ships were clearly not enough to hold the field.
At present, the East African Navy's two dreadnoughts were both deployed with the Indian Ocean Fleet, while the semi-dreadnought Bagamoyo belonged to the Atlantic Fleet. This also reflected the Indian Ocean's central position in East Africa's maritime strategy.
In fact, dreadnoughts spread quickly. In 1907, both Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire had begun constructing their own dreadnoughts. The Austro-Hungarian Navy's technology mainly came from East Africa, while Germany's came primarily from its own technology, combined with a very small amount of East African technology.
Including Britain, four countries in the world already possessed dreadnoughts. Other countries, apart from France, which leaned toward cruisers and similar classes of warship, also intended to enter the race.
Britain was undoubtedly the most troubled by this outcome. As East Africa, Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire successively acquired dreadnoughts, the "German" threat theory also stirred a small wave of anxiety among nations around the world.
The three countries' combined number of dreadnoughts exceeded Britain's. For this reason, Britain expanded its domestic dreadnought and battlecruiser construction plans in 1907.
The main difference between battlecruisers and dreadnoughts lay in speed. Battlecruisers possessed greater mobility, and at present, Britain was the only country that had them.
Germany followed close behind, beginning battlecruiser construction in 1908. Its first one was expected to be launched next year. In this regard, East Africa was slightly a step behind.
Of course, the boundary between the two types of warship was not particularly clear in practice; their main difference was where their emphasis lay. In the East African Navy's