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This rare hand-finished 3D terrain model by the U.S. Navy's Terrain Model Workshop presents a detailed representation of Angaur, a small island in the Palau group, created as a strategic planning tool during World War II. Made from rubber and foam, the map is meticulously painted to reflect the island’s terrain, showcasing the dense vegetation, infrastructure, and topographical features essential for military operations.

The model provides a bird’s-eye view of Angaur, with roads, open areas, and key landmarks highlighted to aid in understanding the landscape’s navigability. Notably, an arrow marking north, along with the island’s name and the scale of 1:10,000, are etched onto the surface, underscoring the map’s utility in planning and reconnaissance. Such maps were indispensable during the Pacific campaign, as they enabled soldiers and pilots to familiarize themselves with the island’s layout before invasions. This piece is a striking example of the U.S. military’s innovative approach to terrain modeling, illustrating both the precision and artistry involved in preparing for combat in unfamiliar environments.

Angaur

Angaur is a tiny limestone island, just 3 mi (4.8 km) long, separated from Peleliu by a 7-mile strait, from which phosphate was mined. In mid-1944, the Japanese had 1,400 troops on the island, under the overall command of Palau Sector Group commander Lieutenant General Sadae Inoue and under the direct command of Major Goto, who was stationed on the island.

The weak defenses of the Palaus and the potential for airfield construction made them attractive targets for the Americans after the capture of the Marshall Islands, but a shortage of landing craft meant that operations against the Palaus could not begin until the Mariana Islands were secure.

Airfields were being constructed as the battle was still being fought, but the delay in the start of the Palaus operation meant that the airfields were not ready in time for the start of the Philippines operations in October 1944. Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. had argued before the invasion of the Palaus that the operation was unnecessary, and military historians have agreed with him, suggesting that the main benefit was the combat experience gained by the 81st Infantry Division.

Terrain Model Workshop

Production of 3D terrain models is given a good overview at the following website: http://www.terrainmodels.com/war.html

The terrain maps of Pacific Islands were taken aboard vessels that participated in invasions and were used to acquaint Marines, sailors, and airmen with their target.

Many of the models were partially made by pantograph and finished by hand. See the following link for more background information: http://www.terrainmodels.com/pantograph.html