Hello. I was wondering, what specific maps were typically issued to the troops during the Normandy campaign? There seem to be dozens of different types of maps of the Normandy battle area that date from the period, from assault maps to BIGOT area maps to Situation Report maps... I'm interested in finding out what specific types of these maps were issued to the troops please? Would the Situation Report maps have been issued daily or periodically to units in the field? Also, did armoured units have special maps issued? Thanks!
In the Normandy campaign as in every other campaign , The Brits had standard GSGC maps and the us army had standard ams maps. Often printed in the field and often cross pollinated to each other. Maps were not issued with tactical markings printed on them or enemy positions.
An awful lot of specialised maps were created and issued for the assault phase, both operational and administrative. This is a step above your usual coffee table books. You might even find The Works has got some in. https://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-story-through-maps/dp/0007592833
You have asked a very big question. Maps and charts were produced for all sorts of units in all services. Maps used for air operations have different features, use a different grid system to a different scale to those used by a tank crew. Field artillery needs 1:25,000 maps to calculate firing data, while 1:50,000 is usually OK for most purposes. Navies need charts rather than maps with coastal and navigation information as well as the locations of friendly and enemy minefields etc. There overprints with information about defences and the famous "Bogus" maps with a false grid and place names. There were some articles on this that appeared around the round anniversaries of D Day Contact John Peaty at the British Cartographic society for a professional view. Dr John Peaty - The British Cartographic Society
If you haven't already, try searching here on D-Day maps or mapping. For example, one of the hits links to an American journal article on the subject: Operation Overlord - Bogus Maps
Michael, I think this info may help you. The first two pics are from the First US Army Neptune OPLAN and identify the maps initially used for the landings. The third pic is from a page from the 1st US Infantry Division's Field Order #35 for Operation Neptune. It should give you an idea how the various maps were distributed to soldiers in the division's units. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Chuck
