This beautiful poster has been re-mastered from an original WWII poster urging Americans to “Give Us Lumber” to build more PT boats for the war effort.
The vibrant colors and detail of this classic image have been painstakingly brought back to life to preserve a great piece of history.
The high-resolution image is printed on heavy archival photo paper, on a large-format, professional giclée process printer. The poster is shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, and is ready for framing.
The 13"x19" format is an excellent image size that looks great as a stand-alone piece of art, or as a grouped visual statement. These posters require no cutting, trimming, or custom sizing, and a wide variety of 13"x19" frames are readily available at your local craft or hobby retailer, and online.
A great vintage print for your home, shop, or business!
HISTORY OF WWII POSTERS & PT BOATS
In the late 1930’s, and early 1940’s, Americans were divided over whether to join Britain and France in the war with Germany. It wasn’t until the surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941 that the U.S. would be forced into World War II. When U.S. troops were sent to fight in the war effort, hundreds of artists were commissioned to create patriotic posters that would rally support on the home front.
To preserve materials and resources for the war effort, patriotic posters advocating carpooling to save on gas, cautioned against wasting food, and urged people on the home front to collect scrap metal to be recycled into military materials. Rationing programs were implemented in the spring of 1942, and limits were set on everyday purchases.
Many posters presented positive patriotic messages, while others used fear to rally support for the Allies and cautioned against leaking information to spies. One of the most famous sayings of the times was "Loose lips sink ships."
PT BOATS
The PT boat was very different from the first generation of torpedo boat, which had been developed at the end of the 19th century and featured a displacement hull form. These first-generation torpedo boats rode low in the water, displaced up to 300 tons, and had a top speed of 25 to 27 kn (29 to 31 mph; 46 to 50 km/h). During World War I Italy, the US and UK developed the first high-performance motor torpedo boats (often with top speeds over 40 kn (46 mph; 74 km/h)) and corresponding torpedo tactics, but these projects were all quickly disbanded with the Armistice. World War II PT boats continued to exploit some of the advances in planing hull design borrowed from offshore powerboat racing and were able to grow in size due to advancements in engine technology.
During World War II, PT boats engaged enemy warships, transports, tankers, barges, and sampans. As gunboats they could be effective against enemy small craft, especially armored barges used by the Japanese for inter-island transport. Several saw service with the Philippine Navy, where they were named "Q-boats", most probably after President Manuel L. Quezon.
