WWII Map Coordinate system

Discussions on all aspects of the United States of America during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Carl Schwamberger.
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199Punch
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Posts: 79
Joined: 21 Jul 2008, 20:15

WWII Map Coordinate system

#1

Post by 199Punch » 07 Oct 2009, 16:12

Hello,
I'm trying to translate some US WWII Europe maps so I can find some locations on Google Earth.
I'm not sure if they're NAD27 UTM or what. Maybe someone can help me out.

Here's two examples: 43.44 - 96.32 and 31.6 - 88.6 My guess is they're within 20 miles of each other based
on the artillery locations in my research.

Thanks

Carl Schwamberger
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Location: USA

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#2

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 25 Oct 2009, 23:18

Check the margins for lattitude & longitude marks There may also be note for LL in the map legend.

Whats the interest in the map?


199Punch
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Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#3

Post by 199Punch » 26 Oct 2009, 04:42

Carl Schwamberger wrote:Check the margins for lattitude & longitude marks There may also be note for LL in the map legend.

Whats the interest in the map?
I have all the coordinates for the battery positions and German guns and with proper know how I could
find them on a period map. From there I could place them with Google Earth.
All I have are examples like I had in my first post. Other than that there's hand drawn battery position maps.
I'm concerned the projection they used was different.

Carl Schwamberger
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Location: USA

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#4

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 26 Oct 2009, 17:30

199Punch wrote:
Carl Schwamberger wrote:Check the margins for lattitude & longitude marks There may also be note for LL in the map legend.

Whats the interest in the map?
I have all the coordinates for the battery positions and German guns and with proper know how I could
find them on a period map. From there I could place them with Google Earth.
All I have are examples like I had in my first post. Other than that there's hand drawn battery position maps.
I'm concerned the projection they used was different.
Projection probablly was different. Let me check some notes for leads.

RichTO90
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Posts: 4238
Joined: 22 Dec 2003, 19:03

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#5

Post by RichTO90 » 26 Oct 2009, 19:19

199Punch wrote:Hello,
I'm trying to translate some US WWII Europe maps so I can find some locations on Google Earth.
I'm not sure if they're NAD27 UTM or what. Maybe someone can help me out.

Here's two examples: 43.44 - 96.32 and 31.6 - 88.6 My guess is they're within 20 miles of each other based
on the artillery locations in my research.

Thanks
If they are British or US maps from World War II they are using the Modified British Coordinate System found on the GSGS maps that were issued at scales from 1:10,000 to 1:100,000 during the war (copies of the originals may be obtained through NARA, TNA, or IWM). Most of the locations in Normandy are in the French Lambert Zone 1, although some may be in the Nord de Guerre Zone. See http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-welcome.php for a complete explanation and coordinate "translators" that allow you to convert to Lat/Long or plot on MapQuest.

Hope that helps.

Rich

199Punch
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Posts: 79
Joined: 21 Jul 2008, 20:15

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#6

Post by 199Punch » 26 Oct 2009, 21:56

RichTO90 wrote:
199Punch wrote:Hello,
I'm trying to translate some US WWII Europe maps so I can find some locations on Google Earth.
I'm not sure if they're NAD27 UTM or what. Maybe someone can help me out.

Here's two examples: 43.44 - 96.32 and 31.6 - 88.6 My guess is they're within 20 miles of each other based
on the artillery locations in my research.

Thanks
If they are British or US maps from World War II they are using the Modified British Coordinate System found on the GSGS maps that were issued at scales from 1:10,000 to 1:100,000 during the war (copies of the originals may be obtained through NARA, TNA, or IWM). Most of the locations in Normandy are in the French Lambert Zone 1, although some may be in the Nord de Guerre Zone. See http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-welcome.php for a complete explanation and coordinate "translators" that allow you to convert to Lat/Long or plot on MapQuest.

Thanks a lot, this is a start. The maps are Lambert Zone 2 1:25000. Makes it a bit tougher than the examples they use.
How do I manage the decimal points?

Hope that helps.

Rich

RichTO90
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Posts: 4238
Joined: 22 Dec 2003, 19:03

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#7

Post by RichTO90 » 27 Oct 2009, 00:03

199Punch wrote:Here's two examples: 43.44 - 96.32 and 31.6 - 88.6 My guess is they're within 20 miles of each other based
on the artillery locations in my research.

Thanks a lot, this is a start. The maps are Lambert Zone 2 1:25000. Makes it a bit tougher than the examples they use.
How do I manage the decimal points?
The grid remains the same regardless of the scale. In this case it looks like the XY are 4344 9632 and 3160 8860. However, you need to find out what sheet is being used, which should be indicated somewhere on the original document.

199Punch
Member
Posts: 79
Joined: 21 Jul 2008, 20:15

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#8

Post by 199Punch » 27 Oct 2009, 15:52

RichTO90 wrote:
199Punch wrote:Here's two examples: 43.44 - 96.32 and 31.6 - 88.6 My guess is they're within 20 miles of each other based
on the artillery locations in my research.

Thanks a lot, this is a start. The maps are Lambert Zone 2 1:25000. Makes it a bit tougher than the examples they use.
How do I manage the decimal points?
The grid remains the same regardless of the scale. In this case it looks like the XY are 4344 9632 and 3160 8860. However, you need to find out what sheet is being used, which should be indicated somewhere on the original document.
My 1944 map sheet is 16/32 S.W. 1:25,000 within the larger 3H/4 sheet.

I have a 1961 map of the general area under Lambert Zone 2 but the map has a different system it's VII-19 Plouay 7-8.

kanone18
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Location: Hungary

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#9

Post by kanone18 » 07 Apr 2016, 10:14

Hi!

Sorry for renew this old topic. I have got a german 1:300000 map but i dont know it's cordinate sytem and the projection. This is the map: http://igrek.amzp.pl/details.php?id=11780656 Please help me how can i get this informations. Thank in advance.

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TARTARIN
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Location: France

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#10

Post by TARTARIN » 27 Jan 2018, 08:21

Hello,

I am looking for what these coordinates correspond on the island of Crete in WW2:

"LG 07" and "LG 08"

Thanks.
TARTARIN

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Sheldrake
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Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#11

Post by Sheldrake » 27 Jan 2018, 11:56

TARTARIN wrote:Hello,

I am looking for what these coordinates correspond on the island of Crete in WW2:

"LG 07" and "LG 08"

Thanks.
TARTARIN
You haven't given the context, but LG often means "Landing Ground." There were three airfields in use in Crete in 1941, but the RAF had identified other potential landing grounds. These many have been developed by the Germans when they captured the island. LG 6 & 7 sound as id they are one of these
map of landing places.gif

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TARTARIN
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Location: France

Re: WWII Map Coordinate system

#12

Post by TARTARIN » 18 Mar 2018, 08:47

Hello !
I apologize for being late
Thanks, many thanks !!!
TARTARIN

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