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What Do Those Markings Mean On Maps?


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When I review a scenario, I always notice those military markings showing attack/defense, but I don't really know what they mean. And yes, I can kind of figure out what the author means when he uses these but I'd really like to find a site that explains all this stuff anyway.

Anyone got a link to one of these military sites?

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Are you talking about the briefing graphics? I find the symbols usually are much simpler than standard military tactical symbols. Normally they are just solider or tank silhouettes and red or blue defensive lines. These are clearly inspired by full on tactical symbols but much more high level.

There are a variety of sites and each army had their own set of symbols.

Modern (NATO)

The system the allies used in WWII has evolved into the modern NATO symbols. Here is a primer on the symbols themselves Wikipedia Symbols description. This is the official unclassified document and chapter 3 deals with how to use them on a topo map: Nato Millitary Symbols Guide.

US and Western Allies - WW2

For the actual WWII symbols consult FM21-30. This document also talks about how to use them on a map.

German - WW2

For the Germans, I actually have not looked for documentation on how they were used on maps. You can find the symbol description here: German Army Organizational Symbolx This site also uses the symbols to describe the German army's organizational structure

Russian - WW2

This is a little trickier. They have a great system and I have found a few documents on line that are in Russian. The document you want is "TM 30-430 Handbook On USSR Military Forces" however only one chapter is available online but it can be found Google Search to locate a copy. In this thread you can find more information and people chiming in with lots of good links etc.

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Do you mean the arrows and icons used to show the basic plan of attack and suspected enemy locations, like the photo below:?

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/wordpress/wp-content/image/2011/Games/Combat-Mission-DDay-AAR/mission%20briefing2.jpg

Or do you meant the typical NATO style military unit symbols? for example:

http://army.ca/wiki/images/3/37/Map_Symbols.jpg

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....

.

US and Western Allies - WW2

For the actual WWII symbols consult FM21-30. This document also talks about how to use them on a map.

Just go back one level from the FM21-30 link to www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs for a heap pile of documents. Two good ones.

FM7-5 ORGANIZATION AND TACTICS OF INFANTRY THE RIFLE BATTALION

FM17-10 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL

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Just go back one level from the FM21-30 link to www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs for a heap pile of documents. Two good ones.

FM7-5 ORGANIZATION AND TACTICS OF INFANTRY THE RIFLE BATTALION

FM17-10 ARMORED FORCE FIELD MANUAL

and if you go back one more to http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/ then you can see what each document actually is.

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Do you mean the arrows and icons used to show the basic plan of attack and suspected enemy locations, like the photo below:?

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/wordpress/wp-content/image/2011/Games/Combat-Mission-DDay-AAR/mission%20briefing2.jpg

Or do you meant the typical NATO style military unit symbols? for example:

http://army.ca/wiki/images/3/37/Map_Symbols.jpg

The latter.

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