Content note: Cartoon of a sinking ship and a submarine periscope marked with a swastika. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Lubbers don't live! This little ship closed its hatches and doors
Navy training-aid cartoon sheet under a large 'Lubbers Don't Live!' banner. Two small ships are contrasted: one that closed its hatches and doors and outfought a submarine near the Statue of Liberty, and one shown sinking in smoke beside a periscope marked with a swastika. The tell is fear-appeal told as a rhyme for sailors.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Training Aids
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Training Aids. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1309 (NAID 514922).
Text on the object
THIS LITTLE SHIP CLOSED IT'S HATCHES AND DOORS.... THIS LITTLE SHIP FORGOT; LUBBERS DON'T LIVE! TOOT TOOT THE WATER-TIGHT SHIP OUTFOUGHT A SUB- THE OTHER, ALAS, DID NOT ! [imprint:] U. S. NAVY, BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, TRAINING AIDS ... NAV. PERS. 900,008 A-1 [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-561903
