Bit of a teaser - anyone recognise this?

[her0n]

"The image shown below is a relief model that we believe was created during WWII. Models like this were used to brief aircrews and other military personnel prior to operations. The problem with this model is that neither the Imperial War Museum or us know which geographical location has been modelled here (could be literally anywhere in North West Europe!)."

Uni set this as a fun question at the end of a quiz on aerial photography today.. it's not a trick, they really don't know where this place is.
The picture of the map in question can be found here:

http://her0n.multiplay.co.uk/reliefmapwhereisit.jpg

What was suggested that this was a training map for the artists/modellers to practise on, as there is a lot of detail in the foreground but not the background. This may mean the map is of somewhere in the uk. Also the coastline may have changed somewhat since the 1940's.. but it looks like there is a port or harbour of some sort in the background..

Enjoy :)

[no friends]

edit: not in the solent
after looking at some charts...

charts here (http://www.bluesheets.co.uk/images/news_items/Solent-Racing-Chart-2.gif)

[her0n]

Don't ask me, I genuinely don't know. How are you sure it's the solent? Evidence is required to back up that claim!

[WhiteKnight]

Unless it was part of a much larger model it has to be somewhere of military significance or there would be no need to plan an attack on it.

That limits the choices.

The resolution cant be more than a few miles across.


One question i have...

Is it ours, or theirs ?

I.e. Allied, or Axis ?

That would also limit your options a little as to where it is.
Its unlikely to be a UK location if belonged to us.

[her0n]

It's British Military made..(apparently from lino, clay and stuff like that)

But as pointed out by a lecturer it could well be a training map which the professional modellers etc worked on before the real things, in which case it's possible it is a UK location.

Some good points made though WK, if it is a port in the background, where is all the detail? It could just be unfinished or part of a larger map, as suggested.

[Shazz]

Looks like a place close to St mere Eglise in Normandy. Which would have significant Milatary significane, as its close to where the D-Day landings happened, googling for the actual name.

[Mavykins]

Using google earth i found a place called Port Racine in france west of cherbourg, that seems to look similar to that map

[Flufball]

They way the photo displays it, is that the correct way round?

[WhiteKnight]

A) what is "the correct way" ?

B) If you meant "up = north"..... if no-one knows where it is, how can we orient it base on "north" ?

[Ch3m1c4L]

i thought we had that cool movie software that can just "read" key parts of the terrain and look at similarities throughtout the world, and how it might have changed etc etc and then tell us where it would be.....if you can tell me what its called......

[Elbonio]

looks a bit like it

http://www.parachutingtrees.co.uk/crap/map1.jpg



but isnt the one

[her0n]

Mav, just had a look at port racine, parts of it do look similar yes.. have taken a few screenies to show them if nothing more exact comes up :)

[Shazz]

Originally posted by - Maverick -
Using google earth i found a place called Port Racine in france west of cherbourg, that seems to look similar to that map

thats the very same place i was thinking of, found it on google, so looks like thats your one.

Nice little town i regularly visit with my old man to stay overnight when we go on a booze cruise.

[her0n]

I don't wanna discount other locations though! just outta interest, you been there yourself?