---
title: Victory Depends on Ships
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/victory-depends-on-ships-uk-1939/
description: A ship's bow forms the V of 'Victory' in red, white and blue, with the text 'Victory depends on ships; when we get them depends on you!' above the issuer's
section: Collection
---

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3. Victory Depends on Ships

[![Victory Depends on Ships, 1939 UK poster: A ship's bow forms the V of 'Victory' in red, white and blue, with the text](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/victory-depends-on-ships-uk-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/victory-depends-on-ships-uk-1939.jpg)

# Victory Depends on Ships

A ship's bow forms the V of 'Victory' in red, white and blue, with the text 'Victory depends on ships; when we get them depends on you!' above the issuer's name. The tell is the virtue word 'Victory' tied to an unspecified personal duty: the poster does not say what the viewer should do to speed ships' delivery.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
VICTORY
Depends on SHIPS
When we get them
Depends on YOU!
WARTIME MERCHANT SHIPPING LIMITED
```

[← Ventilate Your Quarters](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ventilate-your-quarters-games-1939/) [Victory of the Allies Is Assured →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/victory-of-the-allies-is-assured-uk-1939/)

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- [Colour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lithograph-res-gestae-ancyra-heading-0014/) (Roman Empire · 0014 · Card stacking, Glittering generalities)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Gold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-constantine-i-restitutori-libertatis-0313/) (Roman Empire · 0313 · Glittering generalities)
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- [The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panel](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/armada-portrait-elizabeth-i-greenwich-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Medal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/elizabeth-i-ark-medal-aftercast-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)