Great Britain had by and large the most powerful navy before World War II. It was both historically and culturally significant. Because of the British Isles location in the North Sea and because they are islands, the use of naval force and boats was crucial to their territorial expansion and for a long period of time, Great Britain was the strongest empire in the world due to this. As well as the Industrial Revolution having some of its roots in Great Britain, this sped up shipping and the performances of the docks. However, after 1914, the United States became the most powerful navy in the world.
