How to Use a Military Compass: A Step-by-Step Guide
A military compass is an essential navigation tool for military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a powerful instrument that provides accurate bearing readings and directional information. If you’re new to using a compass, don’t worry – with practice, you’ll become a pro in no time! In this article, we’ll cover the basics of how to use a military compass, helping you master the art of navigation.
Understanding Your Military Compass
Before you start using your compass, take a closer look at it. Notice the design and features of your compass. The main components you should pay attention to include:
• Dial: This is the ring on your compass with lines and arrows on it.
• Pointer: Also known as the orienting arrow or bezel ring, it points towards magnetic north when aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field.
• Bezel Ring: The bezel ring is usually a rotating dial that must be aligned with the earth’s magnetic field to point towards magnetic north.
• Direction-of-Travel Arrow: The arrow indicates the direction in which the map and terrain are being approached.
The Four Basic Methods of Compass Navigation
Military compass navigation involves using various methods to determine your position and orient your map. The following are four essential methods you should learn:
- Dead Reckoning
- Prismatic Reading
- Trite Measurement
- Deltion-Check-Twilight Navigation
Method 1: Dead Reckoning
- This method involves tracking your movement based on speed, direction, and time to estimate your location.
- Use the speed and distance traveled from the last location to project a future bearing.
- Remember to note the landmarks and any reference points, which can aid your navigation later on.
| Element | Steps |
|---|---|
| Speed (m.p.h.) | Estimated by tracking rate of march (e.g., estimated from vehicle travel or apace on the ground). |
| Direction of travel | Bearing between previous and next locations. Align your direction-of-travel arrow along the correct bearing. |
| Time traveled (hours/minutes) | Avoid inaccurate tracking. Be meticulous when accounting for rest pauses and meals. |
| CALCULATION | Determine new grid reference. For each move, measure time and the effect on dead-reckoned distance; subtracting distances. |
Method 2: Prismatic Reading
- This technique requires using two mirrors placed back-to-back (Loup lens set) that direct light back onto your eyes, acting as an impromptu magnifying glass.
- This aids in spotting mirage dots for more accuracy when judging range.
Note: This technique is limited due to limitations of prism sight.
Other Navigation Techniques
h5> Navigation Using Contours
While traversing mountains or plateaus, focus on rising or decreasing land elevations, aligning them in a correct alignment on a topographical map.
Incorporate slope features’ heights while checking altitude reference lines at cross- or near-horizontal.
Important Navigation Reminders
Remember the 6 P’s of survival (Prioritize, Plot, Practice, Predict, Probe, Prudence)
Know the approximate direction towards which your radio compass might guide you after its signal degradation and magnetic changes
Avoid losing orientation:
- Track movement via pace
- Update location during periods of navigation
- Ensure no excessive distances (b/c error creeps up), as small alterations could turn navigation entirely different.
Don’t take excessive detours for water resources (this will cost additional distance when going).
Know and control pace or march pace’s accuracy!
Avoid disheveled tracking as disuse, uneven distribution of people and unmanaged time increase chance disoriented or uncertain, you would then want to reassess
Track navigation route after taking measures.
If at a juncture unsure where route will likely land (do a reverse survey).
Review past measurements if your surroundings match
Prune possible courses when an actual check fails a true map-check (then confirm course accuracy by retracing previous way and examining).
Make frequent updates through orientation check methods to continue correcting path from error that happened along
Keep on mapping. Monitor map alterations on top surface.
It could lead some unexpected turn as they say the maps show where u’ve arrived
Always consult map by comparison when map reference on its edges changes to reflect location (like that change will cause further movement. Be alert
Don’t trust an estimated reading only use data directly to control any movements if they would influence or in other conditions) if something does and does.
There you have it! In this guide, we explored the art of using a military compass for navigation, covering four basic methods for determining direction, orientating your map, and accurately tracking your movements. While mastering this tool takes time and practice, you should now feel confident in the ability to use your military compass with confidence. Just remember: accurate navigation hinges on consistently employing correct estimation of progress to control directions of orientation based on these navigation and then on data that does influence actual.
Note:
You must read, master or reenact information based on practice with various, to not misstate.
A better map gives accuracy as, though I want the route in between this information helps for what has already
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