---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in…"
description: "\"“Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in 1940. Building that battleship today might cost £500m, but to build a battleship representing the same proporti..."
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---

#  Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in 1940. Building that…

![“Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in 1940. Building that battleship today might cost £500m, but to build a battleship representing the same proportion of current GDP would mean spending £2.5bn.” quote by David Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/david-edgerton-87636_quote_thus-a-battleship-cost-around-10m-in-194_1516536.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/david-edgerton-87636_quote_thus-a-battleship-cost-around-10m-in-194_1516536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/david-edgerton-87636_quote_thus-a-battleship-cost-around-10m-in-194_1516536.jpg)

> ““Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in 1940. Building that battleship today might cost £500m, but to build a battleship representing the same proportion of current GDP would mean spending £2.5bn.””

[David Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edgerton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Historical costs of military assets rise dramatically, reflecting economic growth and inflation.

**In simple terms:** Warships become far more expensive over time.

Key Takeaway

Consider economic context in defense budgeting.

Themes

economics military inflation

Mood

analytical informative

Type

historical economic

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- policy analysis
- historical research

Key Concepts

historical economics defense spending GDP proportion

Questions to Reflect On

- How do nations balance defense needs with fiscal constraints?
- What alternatives exist to traditional battleships?

A Different Perspective

High costs may limit strategic flexibility.

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