A crew at work against a hidden threat
Naval History and Heritage Command identifies Sub Spotted—Let ’Em Have It as McClelland Barclay’s 1942 work. The scene shows sailors handling a depth charge, bringing the labour of anti-submarine warfare into view. The object record is numbered 88-013-RC.
The enemy submarine is not the main visual subject. Instead, the viewer sees the crew and its equipment at close range. That choice makes the recruiting appeal about joining the people who take action.
Why the close viewpoint matters
The rounded charge occupies a large part of the picture, while the sailors’ bodies lean into the task. Ropes, metal surfaces and angled limbs make the scene feel crowded and demanding. The short headline supplies the urgency of a spoken command.
The poster is a designed appeal, not a photograph proving a named submarine attack. Read it beside Barclay’s Dish It Out With the Navy and Man the Guns. Across the three, teamwork and the handling of heavy equipment make naval service look immediate, physical and collective.