PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
USING THE
MILITARY
LENSATIC
COMPASS
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
WARNING
This presentation is intended as a
quick summary, and not a
comprehensive resource. If you
want to learn Land Navigation in
detail, either buy a book; or get
someone, who has the knowledge
and skills, to teach you in person.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
NOTE
To get the ideas across presented on
these slides, many figures, pictures,
and calculations may not be to scale
and may be exaggerated for clarity.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Note:
Prior to being issued any training *equipment, you will
be required to sign a “statement of liability” agreeing
to pay for anything you damage or lose.
All items will be inspected and inventoried prior to
your signature and at the end of the training day too.
If you do not intend to sign this statement, then you
may be denied training.
* You may use your own equipment.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
LAND NAVIGATION
PRESENTATION
PART 2
Module 7
Sense of Direction
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
. . . and now on with the . . .
PRESENTATION
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
LAND NAVIGATION WITH MAP
AND LENSATIC COMPASS
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
LAND NAVIGATION
Why Learn Land Navigation? Training and practicing land navigation on foot
provides the following everyday navigation (how not to get lost) benefits;
- Tracking present location (Where am I ?)
- Determining Distance (How far is it and am I there yet ?)
- Sense of direction (Where do I want to go and where am I actually going ?)
- How to read a topographic map (Do I understand the map ?)
-Terrain and map association (What hill or river am I looking at ?)
- Spatial skills (Can I mentally visualize the landscape in 3D ?)
- Planning safe, practical routes (Take a long safe route or a short risky route ?)
- And more Navigational skills
The best way to learn LAND NAVIGATION is to get "dirt time", that is, get out there with a map and compass!
Navigation is not about finding yourself after you are lost (although that’s what happens sometimes); it’s about
keeping track of your position as you move away from a known point. As you move you have to remain
cognizant of the terrain you are leaving, of the terrain you are passing, and of the terrain that is ahead.
Navigation in the wilderness means knowing your starting point, your destination, and your route to get there.
These skills will allow you to venture farther off the beaten path than you ever thought before.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
THIS PRESENTATION IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________
PART 1 Basic Land Navigation
The Lensatic Compass module 1
The Topographic Map modules 2, 3, 4,
The Land and Map Association modules 5, 6
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation
Making Sense of Direction module 7
Tracking Present Location modules 8, 9, 10, 11
Determining Travel Distance modules 12, 13, 14
PART 3 Advance Land Navigation
Navigation Methods to Stay On Course module 15
Additional Skills of Land Navigation module 16
Planning to Navigate module 17
PART 4 Expert Land Navigation
Navigation in different types of Terrain module 18
Night Navigation module 19
Sustainment module 20
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
THESE ARE THE TRAINING MODULES
Module 1 Lensatic Compass – parts and features, and how to sight the compass by two different methods.
Module 2 Topo Map Margin – what map margin data represents, map care, and how to properly fold a map.
Module 3 Topo Map Scale – map sizes and how it affects amount of detail that will be shown.
Module 4 Topo Map Symbols – you must understand them; to read and speak map language to others.
Module 5 Terrain Relief – shows elevation, indicates terrain features and heights of natural features.
Module 6 Map Information – what a protractor is for and how a map provides four kinds of information.
Module 7 Sense of Direction – lateral drift, current bearing, obstacles, back azimuth, deliberate offset.
Module 8 Resection – locate position with map only. Modified resection is with a map or compass.
Module 9 Intersection & Triangulation – two methods to locate position by compass.
Module 10 Map Speaks Compass Language - there is no need to orient the map to find your position.
Module 11 Plotting Position Coordinates – exact positioning, used to communicate to others with a map.
Module 12 Route Measure – mapping straight-line distance, curvature distance, and slope distance.
Module 13 Pace Count – using ranger pacing beads and estimating hiking speed.
Module 14 Travel Distance Estimation – estimating by 100 meter rule, rule-of-thumb, and by time.
Module 15 Plan to Navigate – in a group or alone, equipment, safety, responsibilities, route selection.
Module 16 Stay on Course – advance reference points and advance baselines.
Module 17 Additional Land Navigation Skills – estimate daylight, conserve energy, blisters, weather insight.
Module 18 Navigating Different Terrain – special environments, featureless terrain, visibility, dense foilage.
Module 19 Night Navigation – night adaptation, protecting night vision, navigate with lensatic compass.
Module 20 Sustainment – maintaining skills, training others, setting up a land navigation course.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
PART 2
INTERMEDIATE LAND NAVIGATION
MODULE 7
• Making Sense of Direction
– Lateral Drift and Current Bearing
– Obstacles
– Back Azimuth
– Deliberate Offset
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
DESCRIPTION
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO AND WHERE ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING ?
A hiker’s path isn’t straight, small detours are made in following a general bearing – like around a big log in
the way, a boulder, or avoiding a small water pond, etc. – since the land has so many irregularities.
The idea is to be conscious of the detours, keep them short, and try to zig as often as you zag. If you must
make a sizeable detour, you are better off plotting a new travel bearing.
YOU WANT YOU END
TO BE HERE UP HERE
X
YOU STARTED HERE
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
TO SET A COURSE (Follow An Azimuth)
Three Methods
METHOD ONE
1. Select the desired azimuth you want to follow, example 120º azimuth. Then rotate the compass until the
Black Index Line is positioned over the 120º azimuth.
2. Rotate bezel until Luminous Bezel Line is aligned with the North Arrow. Once bezel is set leave it there.
3. Follow set azimuth.
STEP STEP
STEP ONE TWO
ONE B
A
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
TO SET A COURSE (Follow An Azimuth)
Three Methods
METHOD TWO
1. Align the North Arrow and Luminous Bezel Line with the Black Index Line.
2. Subtract the desired azimuth (example 120º) from 360º . 360º – 120º = 240º
3. Rotate bezel until Luminous Bezel Line is aligned with 240º. Once bezel is set leave it there.
4. Then rotate the compass until Luminous Bezel Line is aligned with the North Arrow. The Black Index Line
will be aligned with 120º.
STEP
FOUR
STEP STEP
ONE THREE
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
TO SET A COURSE (Follow An Azimuth)
Three Methods
METHOD THREE
1. Align Luminous Bezel Line with the Black Index Line. It does not matter which direction compass is facing.
2. Divide desired azimuth (example 120º) by 3. 120º .. 3 = 40 clicks left
* Above 180º is 360º- desired azimuth (example 285º) ; 360º – 285º = 75º 3 = 25 clicks right
3. Rotate bezel 40 clicks left. Once bezel is set leave it there.
4. Then rotate the compass until Luminous Bezel Line is aligned with the North Arrow. The Black Index Line
will be aligned with 120º.
New
Direction
120 º
STEP STEP STEP
ONE THREE FOUR
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
Where do you want to go and where are you actually going ? - COMPASS FOLLOWING
• Using the compass without a distant reference landmark is known as compass following.
It results in a lateral error (drift) as shown here.
• The compass provides only the forward part of navigation. COMPASS FOLLOWING
( LATERAL ERROR )
By itself it has no way of preventing lateral errors.
Intended line of travel BEARING 58º GOAL
Actual line of travel
Compass “read” here to stay on 58º
C
• This is where the use of landmarks fits in.
Known as intermediate landmarks. B
Like trees, huge boulders, hill, saddle, or any
landmarks that will be visible when traveling
from START to ―A‖ intermediate landmark, A
then to ―B‖ intermediate landmark, then to
―C‖ intermediate landmark, then to GOAL.
Intermediate landmarks should be short START
distances from landmark to landmark.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
COMPASS FOLLOWING ( summarized )
• Is when you drift away from the given destination, but you remain on the same bearing.
• The compass alone, is not enough to eliminate lateral drift.
• Spot a landmark (tree, knoll) on the set bearing, walk to that landmark, then pick another. Continue until
destination is reached.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
GIVEN THE NECESSITY OF OCCASIONAL DETOURS, you can come close to your destination by . . .
• Make careful, accurate sightings on both destination and intermediate landmarks.
• Recheck bearings often, to avoid accumulation of small errors.
• Use bearings over short distances when possible.
• Continually relate your progress to the map.
• Aim for a line rather than a point ; for instance, a stream is easier to hit than a waterfall on that stream.
• Line up two distant objects on your bearing line that will always be in sight – example, a prominent tree
and a huge crag (boulder). When you have to detour off course, quickly correct for error by moving until
these two points are again aligned.
USING A BASELINE
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
OBSTACLES – getting around them
1. While on course you run into a lake. 1. While on course you run into a hill.
2. On the other side you clearly see a lone tree 2. You take a 90º left turn and pace count until you
directly on the same course bearing. clear the hill.
3. So you walk the lake shore until you get to 3. Then turn right 90º and walk till you clear the hill
the lone tree again.
4. and continue on your course bearing. 4. Then turn right 90º again and pace count the
same amount as the first pace count.
5. At the end of the pace count, turn left 90º and
continue on your course bearing.
54 STEPS
54 STEPS
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
BACK AZIMUTH – return trip
• A back azimuth is the reverse direction of an azimuth. It is comparable to doing an ―about face‖.
— Azimuth less than 180º ADD 180º.
— Azimuth more than 180º SUBTRACT 180º.
NOTE: the back azimuth of 180º may be stated as either 0º or 360º
15º + 180º = 195º back azimuth
277º - 180º = 97º back azimuth
HILL
LAKE
CAMP
TRAIL
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
MAKING SENSE OF DIRECTION
CURRENT BEARING
DELIBERATE OFFSET – aiming off
1. You are at the lake and want to head back to camp at a 195º bearing.
• But when you reach the trail, which way to go, which way to turn; left or right?
2. At the lake; deliberately offset to a 165º bearing and follow the bearing to the trail.
• When you reach the trail, all you have to do is turn right and go to the campsite.
LAKE
NOTE
Deliberate Offset needs a LINE reference, like a
• Trail
• River
• Road
• Shoreline
• Etc.
CAMP TRAIL
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
Note:
Prior to being issued any training *equipment, you will
be required to sign a “statement of liability” agreeing
to pay for anything you damage or lose.
All items will be inspected and inventoried prior to
your signature and at the end of the training day too.
If you do not intend to sign this statement, then you
may be denied training.
* You may use your own equipment.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
TESTING
Now it is time for the following . . .
• Written exam
• Hands-on / Outdoors exam
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 7 Sense of Direction
THE END OF
LAND NAVIGATION
PRESENTATION
PART 2
Module 7
Sense of Direction