You are here

Main Content

The Army Map Service (AMS)

History of the Army Map Service

The Army Map Service (AMS) was formed in 1942 by the consolidation of the Engineer Reproduction Plant with the Library and Cartographic Section of the War Department General Staff. The Engineer Reproduction Plant (ERP), a unit of lithographers and military personnel that grew out of the Corps of Engineers, was a small group largely devoted to "the intermittent mapping needs of a small peacetime army." The consolidation of the ERP with the Cartographic Section of the War Department General Staff put the AMS at the forefront of military mapping campaigns during WWII and the post-war years. During the war, the AMS mapped theaters of war in Europe and East Asia and provided strategic planning mapping in the post-war and cold war years. During World War II, "the Army Map Service operated 24 hours a day, 6 days a week... (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Map Service: Its Mission, History and Organization, 1960)."

Name Changes

1942-1968: The Army Map Service (AMS).

1968-1972: The U.S. Army Topographic Command (USATC).

1972-1996: The Defense Mapping Agency (DMA).

1996-2003: The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA).

2003-present: Currently known as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

Our AMS Holdings

During WWII, AMS maps (1941-1945) included numerous military topograhic mapping programs from European and East Asian theaters of war. The AMS also recovered field-captured maps during WWII, and our holdings include many examples of German military field-captured WWII maps.

After WWII, AMS focused mostly on strategic planning and mapping of other countries and regions of the world at various small- and medium-scales. During the 1970s-1990s, the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA)--successor to the AMS--began mapping portions of the United States and territories at a scale of either 1:25,000 and 1:50,000. See DMA holdings index here.

 

AMS SERIES REGION/COUNTRY GSGS SERIES SCALE(S) DATE(S)
1101 World Outline Maps   1:11,000,000 Various
1102 World Planning Map   1:6,336,000 Various
1103 World Outline Maps   1:19,000,000 Various
1105 World Outline Maps   1:5,000,000  
1106 The World   1:5,000,000 Various
1125 World   1:20,000,000 Various
1127 Eurasia    1:4,347,000  
1130 Western Hemisphere   1:4,278,000  
1130 Western Hemisphere   1:4,973,000  
1130 Western Hemisphere   1:4.415,000  
1130 Western Hemisphere   1:5,000,000  
1202 Eurasia GSGS 2957 1:4,000,000 1957
1204 World Outline Maps   1:10,000,000 1953
1204 World Outline Maps   1:20,000,000 1961
1204 World Outline Maps   1:5,000,000 1957
1301 World GSGS 2555 1:1,000,000 Various
1304W World Road Maps, 2nd ed.   1:1,000,000 1973
1308 Middle East Briefing Map, 2nd ed.   1:5,000,000 1973
1404 World GSGS 4830 1:500,000 Various
2201 Africa GSGS 2871 1:2,000,000 Various
5301 Eastern Asia   1:1,000,000 1944-1945
6203 Europe GSGS 4464 1:2,000,000 1954
8301 United States   1:1,000,000 1947
9301 Australia   1:1,000,000  
9306 East Indies (Indonesia) GSGS  4204 1:1,000,000  
A401 New Foundland   1:500,000 1943
A681 New Foundland   1:125,000 1942
C461 Iceland   1:500,000  
C561 Iceland   1:250,000  
C562 Iceland   1:250,000  
C661 Iceland   1:100,000  
C761 Iceland, Western GSGS 4138 1:50,000  
E401 Northern South America   1:500,000  
G503 West Africa   1:250,000 1942-1943
G504 West Africa   1:250,000 1955
GSGS 2364 France  GSGS 2364 1:250,00  
GSGS 2364 France  GSGS 2364 1:100,000  
GSGS 2447 Nigeria GSGS 2447 1:500,000  
GSGS 2758 Europe  GSGS 2758 1:1,000,000 1943
GSGS 3772 Singapore  GSGS 3772 1:25,000  
GSGS 3789 Eastern China GSGS 3789 1:50,000  
GSGS 3906 Ireland GSGS Survey  GSGS 3906 1:25,000  
GSGS 3915 Botswana  GSGS 3915 1:500,000  
GSGS 4078-9 Israel  GSGS 4078-9 1:100,000  
GSGS 4087  Balkan Peninsula GSGS 4087  1:100,000  
GSGS 4134 Spain GSGS 4134 1:100,000  
GSGS 4142 Ireland Ordnance Survey  GSGS 4142 1:253,440 1942
GSGS 4149 West Africa GSGS 4149 1: 200,000  
GSGS 4183 Netherlands GSGS 4183 1:300,000  
GSGS 4201 Java and Madura GSGS 4201 1:2,500,000  
GSGS 4210 Denmark GSGS 4210 1:100,000  
GSGS 4218 China  GSGS 4218 1:253,440  
GSGS 4222 China GSGS 4222 1:500,000  
GSGS 4228 Italy GSGS 4228 1:25,000  
GSGS 4229 Italy  GSGS 4229 1:50,000  
GSGS 4234 France GSGS 4234 1:5,000  
GSGS 4235 Turkey GSGS 4235 1:800,000  
GSGS 4340  Far East  GSGS 4340  1:2,000,000  
GSGS 4347 France GSGS 4347 1:25,000  
GSGS 4411 France  GSGS 4411 1:25,000 1943
GSGS 4423 Norway GSGS 4423 1:25,000  
GSGS 4525 Germany GSGS 4525 1:12,500  
GSGS 4528 Austria  GSGS 4528 1:25,000  
GSGS 4627 England Ordnance Survey of Great Britain  GSGS 4627 1:25,000  
GSGS 4670 Thailand GSGS 4670 1:63,360  
GSGS 4715 World  GSGS 4715 1:500,000  
GSGS 4763 Nigeria GSGS 4763 1:500,000  
GSGS 4797 Singapore  GSGS 4797 1:25,000  
GSGS 4892 Egypt GSGS 4892 1:100,000  
H401 Eastern South Asia   1:500,000  
J401 Western South America   1:500,000  
K501 Iran and Iraq GSGS 3919 1:253,000  
K502 Southwestern Asia   1:250,000  
K511 Turkey GSGS 4193 1:200,000  
K631 Palestine GSGS 4078-9 1:100,000 1942
K722 Lebanon  GSGS 8061 1:50,000  
L500 China   1:250,000  
L503 Japan Road Maps   1:250,000 1945
L506 Japan   1:250,000  
L508 Thailand   1:253,440  and 1: 250,000 1945-1954
L509 Southeast Asia   1:250,000  
L522 Mongolia   1:250,000  
L531 China Proper, NE   1:250,000  
L532 China Proper, NW   1:250,000  
L541 Manchuria   1:250,000  
L542 Manchuria   1:250,000  
L551 Korea   1:250,000  
L552 Korea   1:250,000 1950
L561 Northern Japan   1:250,000  
L571 Central Japan   1:250,000  
L581 China, SE   1:250,000  
L582 China, SW   1:250,000  
L591 Southern Japan   1:250,000  
L593 Formosa (Taiwan)   1:250,000  
L594 Taiwan    1:250,000  
L705 Malaysia GSGS 4203 1:63,360  
L751 Korea   1:50,000  
L763 Chishima-Retto (Kuril Island)   1:50,000  
L764 Hokkaido (Japan)   1:50,000 1944
L772 Kyushu (Japan)   1:50,000 1945-54
L773 Northern Honshu (Japan)   1:50,000 1944
L774 Central Honshu (Japan)   1:50,000 1944
L775 Southern Honshu   1:50,000 1944-55
L791 Ryukyu-Retto (Japan)   1:50,000 1943
L792 Formosa (Taiwan)   1:50,000  
L911 Taiwan - Formosa City Plans (Series)   Various Various
L902 Japan    1:12,500  
L951 Korea City Plans (Series)   Various Various
L991 Taiwan - Formosa City Plans (Series)   Various Various
L991 Taiwan.Formosa   Various  
M651  Poland  GSGS 4416 1:100,000  
M673 Austria    1:75,000  
M368 Western Europe GSGS 4041 1:25,000 1944
M404 Europe (Air) GSGS 4072 1:500,000  
M501 Western Europe   1:250,000 1946
M505 Europe Road Maps GSGS 4238 1:200,000  
M506 Balkan Peninsula GSGS (4375, 4410, 4412, 4413) 1:250,000  
M508 Central Europe GSGS 4346 1:250,000  
M513 Finland GSGS 4093 1:200,000  
M514 Denmark GSGS 4479 1:250,000  
M515 Northen Europe   1:250,000  
M561 France GSGS 2738 1:250,000 1942-49
M562 France   1:250,000 1955-58
M581 Iberian Peninsula   1:250,000  
M591 Corsica   1:200,000  
M592 Italy    1:200,000  
M601 Yugoslavia GSGS 4396 1:100,000  
M603 Belgium and Northeast France GSGS 4336 1:100,000 1943
M610 Norway GSGS 4090 1:100,000  
M631 Holland GSGS 2541 1:100,000 Various
M641 Germany GSGS 4416 1:100,000  
M651 Poland GSGS 4416 1:100,000  
M661 France GSGS 4249 1;100,000 1942-44
M671 Central Europe   1:100,000  
M691 Italy  GSGS 4164 1:100,000  
M703 Western Europe GSGS 4040 1:50,000 1946
M704 Cyprus GSGS 4242 1:50,000  
M762 France GSGS 4250 1:50,000 1943
M763 Corsica GSGS 4398 1:50,000  
M780 Portugal GSGS 4145 1:50,000  
M781 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M782 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M783 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M784 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M785 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M786 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M787 Spain GSGS 4144 1:50,000  
M788 Balearic Islands   1:50,000  
M841 Germany (Greater) GSGS 4414 1:25,000  
M963 Corsica City Plans GSGS 4381 Various  
N501 Eastern Europe   1:250,000 1953
N502 Western Siberia   1:250,000  
N503 Central Siberia   1:250,000  
N504 Eastern Siberia   1:250,000  
N571 Western Siberia GSGS 3919 1:253,440  
O471, Y471 Madagascar GSGS 4243 1:500,000 1942
P401 French North Africa GSGS 4175 1:500,000 1941
P404 Africa (Air) GSGS 4072A 1:500,000 1943
P410 Canary Islands GSGS 4121 1:400,000  
P461 Libya GSGS 4231 1:500,000  
P472 Egypt GSGS 4084 1:500,000  
P502 North Africa   1:250,000  
P531 Morocco GSGS 4173 1:200,000 1941
P541 Algeria GSGS 4180 1:200,000  
P551 Tunisia  GSGS 4227 1:200,000 1942
P632 Southern Morocco   1:125,000 1943
P651 Tunisia GSGS 4226 1:100,000 1942
P661 Tripoli GSGS 3980 1:100,000  
P662 Cyrenaica  GSGS 4076 1:100,000  
P671 Egypt GSGS 4085 1:100,000 1942
P732 Morocco GSGS 4233 1:50,000 1943
P741 Algeria GSGS 4232 1:50,000  
P751 Tunisia GSGS 4225 1:50,000 1942
P911 Canary Islands City Plans GSGS 4333 Various  
S401 Philippine Islands GSGS 4588 1:500,000 1944-
S501 Philippines   1,250,000  
S651 Mindanao   1:100,000 1944
S712 Luzon (Philippines)   1:50,000 1944
S741 Sulu Archipelago (Philippines)   1:50,000 1944
S751 Mindanao   1:50,000 1944
S821 Palawan Islands   1:25,000 1944
S831 Central Philippines   1:25,000 1944
S851 Mindanao   1:25,000 1944
S901 Philippines    1:25,000  
T401 New Guinea   1:500,000 1942
T503 East Indies   1:250,000 1954
T504 New Guinea   1:250,000 1964
T511 Sumatra GSGS 4550 1:250,000 1948
T521 Java, Madura, Bali   1:250,000 1945
T531 Borneo   1:200,000 1944
T532 Borneo   1:250,000 1945
T541 Celebes   1:200,000 1942
T551 Lesser Sunda Islands   1:250,000 1943
T552 Mesala Islands   1:200,000  
T631 Southeastern Borneo   1:100,000 1943
T662 Molukken Islands   1:100,000 1942
T663 Islands of Ambon and Ceram    1:100,000  
T722 Java and Madura GSGS 4202 1:50,000  
T723 Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) GSGS 4287 1:48,730  
T731 Dutch Borneo (Northern Half)   1:50,000 1945
T731 Dutch Borneo (Southern Half)   1:50,000 1943
T732 Western Borneo   1:50,000  
T761 Amboina Archipelago   1:50,000 1943
U501 India GSGS 3919, 4218 1:253,440  
U502 India & Pakistan    1:250,000  
U511 Afghanistan GSGS 3919 1:253,440  
U542 Burma (Myanmar)   1:250,000 1955
V402 United States Strategic Maps   1:500,000 1964
V601 Western United States   1:100,000 Various
W511 South Japanese Islands   1:250,000  
W541 Marianas Islands   1:250,000 1944
W543 Marianas Islands   1:250,000 1957
W711 Ogawawara-Gunto [Bonin Islands]   1:50,000 1945
W741 Marianas Islands   1:50,000 1942
W742 Guam   1:62,500 1944
W752 Palau Islands   1:40,000 1943
W851 Truk Islands   1:20,000 1943
W853 Palau Islands   1:25,000 1946
W854 Palau Islands   1:12,500 1946
W861 Marshall Islands   1:25,000 1945
X321 New Hebrides GSGS 4298 1:1,000,000 1944
X401 Melanesia   1:500,000 1944-59
X402 New Caledonia   1:400,000  
X511 Buka and Bougainville (Solomon Islands) GSGS 4344 1:250,000  
X551 Fiji Islands   1:250,000 1959
X611 Solomon Islands   1:126,000 1943
X621 New Hebrides Islands   1:125,000  
X631 New Caledonia   1:116,000 1943
X660 Samoa Islands GSGS 4300 1:2,000,000  
X660 Western Samoa Islands GSGS 4299 1:100,000  
X751 Viti Levu Island (Fiji)   1:62,500  
X752 Yasawa Group (Fiji)   1:63,300  
X771 Cook Islands   1:50,000 1942
X772 Tongareva   1:50,000  
Y401 East Africa / Northern Rhodesia   1:500,000 1948
Y502 East Africa   1:250,000 1954-55
Y503 East Africa   1:250,000 1959
Y633 Kenya    1:100,000  
Y732 Uganda    1:50,000  
Y742 Tanzania   1:50,000  
Z501 South Africa   1:250,000  
Z521 Katanga Province   1:200,000 1943
Z523 Democratic Republic of the Congo   1:250,000 1960-64
Z621 Ruanda-Urandi   1:100,000 1942