Once you've got the bearing you can transfer it to the map. We covered how to use a compass correctly, how to shoot your bearings, and the greatest map for navigating: the topo map, in Part I. Orient the map to the terrain. To do so accurately, however, we must first adjust our compass for magnetic declination so the reading taken from the compass arrow . With the map in a horizontal position, take the straightedge on the left side of the compass and place it alongside the north-south grid line with the cover of the compass pointing toward the top . . This is because technology is fallible, batteries run out, cold kills gadgets and theres always the possibility of dropping a device down a steep slope or into a rushing river. Fog or dense forest may mean you cant see but a few feet around you in any direction. The instructions on this page might make orienting a map seem a highly technical thing. Nothing is permanent and contours are more permanent than pretty much everything else on a map. Take a bearing on the mountain thats southwest from you. If the magnetic declinationin your area were zero, you'd proceed in the direction of 062 degrees. navigation and combat. What happens if you dont compensate for declination with your compass? Want a free ebook on Land Navigation? Well, that is, unless you're doing something silly like holding the compass backwards. You cant see the end point in your terrain, so you cant shoot a bearing on it. The lensatic compass is used by the U.S. Military. The big bang. The bezel clicks as it moves--three degrees for every click. FM 3-25.26: Map Reading and Land Navigation. We know were somewhere along HW 115 and south of Saddle Mountain. Weve compiled a detailed guide on how to adjust for magnetic declination, but at its most basic level it goes like this: Your map should state what the magnetic declination is in degrees for the region you are in. Yeah, book is the most effective tool that can be made use of for affecting your life. Your cheek should be resting on the base of your thumb. Step 2: Line up your lensatic compass with the North Star and make sure the index mark is on the star. How to Use a Compass to Get Your Bearings. Before we do that, lets take a closer look at declination. Assume youre southeast of Saddle Mountain and northeast of a few of lesser peaks. that it is pointing towards the top of the map. To make sure you receive a correct bearing, youll have to perform some arithmetic with all of your bearings. Lensatic compasses are made up of three parts: cover, base, and reading lens. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Thats your bearing from point A to point B. You can look through a small window of the top (thats the lens), and navigate smoothly from there. Whenever the luminous magnetic arrow lines up with the luminous short line, you're following your intended azimuth. The plotted line cuts through Mt. This makes it easier to relate what you see on the map with what you see on the ground. When you have a line position, you know that youre on some identifiable line on the map (trail, ridge line, etc. To find the tower's bearing with your lensatic compass: 1. The big idea normally is to have your map more or less line up with the terrain so you can make sense of where things are around you. Lets return to Muir Woods as an example. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, So, don't sweat too much the minute details of getting your map finely oriented to the last degree with your compass. to orient the map to find your position. Look through the sighting slot and find some target (a tree, boulder, whatever) that lines up with your sighting wire. Adjustable Declination Compasses. You are missing your point location. You learn that it has a 176 bearing. A lensatic compass is just one of the many navigational tools we have built. The courses of streams change, field boundaries move, new hedgerows are built, walls are plundered for buildings, glaciers melt, roads and bridges are washed away by floods, houses are knocked down and rebuilt somewhere else. It's important to hold your compass stable, squarely in front of you, and level. Finally, before setting off, be sure to do a quick check by looking around you to see that all features represented on your map are where they should be in the terrain. Ethan Allan thats the peak you saw. Then turn the map until the position of the landmarks on the map corresponds to the real-world features in the terrain, then cross-check your position with additional features to ensure you have oriented correctly. Get your own customized topographical maps, built according to your specifications. See that little black outline of an arrow? When the actual lens gets damaged, it unnecessarily impairs simple operation. The angle between true north and magnetic north is declination. Orienting, or aligning, the map is really easy with just 3 steps: Lay your map out on a relatively flat, smooth surface. 3. Orienting the Map with an Orienteering Compass. Youre in the right place! If you point your compass towards true north, your compass needle is going to point a little to the east. As we can see, the area Im in has a declination of 4E. Timetoprepare.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. Assume youre going on a short trek from one location to another. 9-4. Open it up using the cloud-based editor and begin editing. Brunton TruArc 8010 Classic Map Luminous Compass Brunton TruArc 8010 Classic Map Luminous Compass Item # WX2- 715075 / Mfg. 2. Spatial awareness refers to having knowledge about where everything in the environment is located relative as well as understanding how objects relate with each other spatially. Youll want to rotate it till the black arrow outline matches the 4E hash mark. Now were going to find out where exactly we are on that line. Want a free ebook on Land Navigation? Draw a line towards the roadway youre on using the side of your compass. Well, we can use our compass as a protractor to take a bearing from our map. Lay the compass on the map, using the straight edge to create a line from your starting point to your destination. Before we can start actually navigating, which well get to in Part IIIof this series, we still need to learnwhere we are in relation to our maphow to orient ourselves. Looking at the map is an easy way of finding which direction north or east are relative to your current position. Lay the compass on the map, using the straight edge to create a line from your starting point to your destination. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What is a Lensatic Compass and How to Use Them? Improve your reading skills with the KWL Method Compass 101 - How to Use a Baseplate Compass Buying a Compass for Land Naviga-tion Basic Navigation with a Compass and a Map How to orient a map and take a . Magnetic north would be around 14 degrees to your right, or east. Well adjust it to account for the declination of our compass. 2. Adjust the compass bezel so that north on the compass corresponds to north on the map. It will be clearer why we need to compensate for declination in the first place. The cover is used to protect the compass and also incorporates the sighting wirewhich helps you determine direction. 1. Keep it in a case, or wrapped up in a thick cloth to prevent those damages. Using the side of your compass, draw a line towards the highway that youre on. Click heretolearn about the three different types of compasses. relation to a map. Return from Lensatic Compass to How to Use a Compass. Hed just line his map up with the features of the lake we were currently on to find our portage to the next lake. First things first. Take a compass bearing on the peak to your southwest. Lets say youve hiked the peak of Camels Hump in Vermont. There is some technical difference between the two, but for all practical civilian purposes, the words are interchangeable. Sounds like a lot more than a regular compass, doesnt it? A: You can use the arrow keys, or you can hold down shift and move in any direction to rotate a map around its axis. We may then use our compass to begin going in the direction we need to go in order to reach our destination. If youre in the Adirondacks, youll want to add 14 so your true bearing would be 194. 2. Step 1. 1. SEE IT. If the local declination is positive, subtract the declination amount from the bearing you just derived. Wrap your middle, ring and pinky finger around your thumb for support. 3. In this case, it 15 degrees positive (east). Youll want to turn it until that black arrow outline is lined up with the 4E hash mark. Here's an example from an older map of the Grand Canyon. This was developed for the Center for Initial Military Training, FT Eustis, Va. Timetoprepare.net. Were headed to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma for this example. You need to know where youre going before toying with the compass. Step 3 Use one of two techniques to orientate the map. What's that? Place your compass base plate on your map so the edge of the compass is aligned with the north-south meridian lines. Lay your compass on the map and line up its edge with a known landmark. You look out into the distance and you see another mountain peak, but you dont know the name of it. for Faith in Humanity, how to orient a map using a lensatic compass, orient a map using a lensatic compass powerpoint. Well, youre going to have to do some math with all your bearings to make sure you get a true bearing. 2. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. When orienting a map, our aim is to position it so that the north-south grid lines on the map (eastings) are aligned north-south. If you are interested in trying your hand at navigation with a lensatic compass, check out our Brunton 9077 Compass, and follow along with this video: If you are interested in trying your hand at navigation with a lensatic compass, check out our. It typically consists of a magnetized needle that is mounted on a pivot and placed inside a circular housing. 4. It. Using your location as a pivot, rotate the compass until north on the bezel is pointing to the top of the map and the compass housing orienting lines are parallel with the map's vertical grid lines. When you point your compass towards true north, your compass needle is going to point a little to the west. Welcome back to the Art of ManlinessLand Navigation Manual. Determine the correct magnetic azimuth to the designated point within 3 degrees using the compass-to-cheek method, or within 10 degrees using the center-hold method. Now its time to store your compass. Line your lensatic compasss base plate up with the maps north-south lines. (1) Compass-to-cheek method (figure C-21). But it isnt just magnets there are other culprits at play, here. You want to line up your view so the direction of travel arrow is straight ahead. Conversely, the black end of the compass needle should be pointing south. 1. The mils are in black, and are the outer measurements on the ring. 2 a. Orient the map using the first technique. 1 color. Line your orienteering compass's base plate up with the map's north-south lines. Look at the red needle to see which direction it is pointing. 4. 1. Then tilt the mirror until you can see straight down into the bezel. Learn to navigate using a topographic map and a compass. Your action from here depends on the value and direction of your declinationeast or west. If not, recalibrate before continuing. Shoot a bearing with your compass at the peak of Saddle Mountain. Center-hold. If you want to navigate and explore like a Navy SEAL, its high time you learn how to use one of these stellar compasses. Experience is the best way to learn and wed highly recommend booking a navigation course to really hone your skills. To begin, use your compass to locate a peak on Saddle Mountain. The two basic techniques for using the lensatic compass . Instead of using your compasss arrow, youll align your needle with the tape arrow. durability, and its hyper-accuracy in land. Looking at the photo below, let's say you're at the north end of Sheeler Lake, where the penciled X is. The easiest way to orientate a map is to relate the features in front of you to the features on the map. Stand so that you can see where the north arrow is pointing, and where your direction of travel arrow is pointing. Orient your map so that its lined up with magnetic north (see above). Youre somewhere on that line, so you know have a line position. Position of the point. 4. Place the three remaining fingers below as if you are holding a gun. Point position. But its important to understand the different types of navigational toolsincluding a lensatic compass. Now $7.56. This is also known as triangulation. Holding any compass in a slack and half-a**ed (that's an old military term) manner can cause you to go off in the wrong direction. Orient you compass with the bearing, and draw the bearing line. Plot a line on the map from Saddle Mountain at 130. ? Brett May 23, 2016 Last updated: June 2, 2021. On the other hand, wrap the fingers around the three fingers below the compass. Its 230 degrees in reference to your position, as you can see. In my online video land-navigation course, I explain in lecture 20, how to orient a map. The base is the compass dial, bezel, and the thumb loopthe thumb loop is used for stability to garner a more accurate reading. Use the illustration above to familiarize yourself with the components of a lensatic compass. Place the thumb of the other hand between the rear sight and the bezel ring; extend the index finger along the remaining side of the compass, and the remaining fingers around the fingers of the other hand. When orienting a map, our aim is to position it so that the north-south grid lines on the map (eastings) are aligned north-south. Turn your compass on its side. Fill in the empty areas; concerned parties names, places of residence and phone numbers etc. Without getting over-complicated, a standard compass is different from a lensatic compass. The reason contours are king is that they are fixed, at least in the timescales were talking about here. That can make a huge difference! Lastly, the reading lens also helps cover the compass and folds out; this is where the term lensatic comes from. Look at which way the red needle is pointing. You see that the mountain is 24 in relation to you. So, how are you going to acquire your point position? 3. Standard compasses use floating dials, but lensatic compasses use a damping mechanism powered by electromagnetic induction. US $10.58 orient yourself to a map and follow a course over land The lensatic compass is used to set course bearings Instructions for Lensatic compass Open the lensatic compass so that the cover is at a 90 degree angle and the lens bracket is at a 30 degree angle to the case Lensatic Compass. You want to know how to use a lensatic compass? A Beginners Guide. Turn your entire body as a unit until 066 (062 + 004) degrees falls under your compass's fixed black index line. In actual practice, orienting your map is something you'll often do "on the run" and can be as simple as glancing at your compass needle and turning the map more or less accordingly. Oncein pre-GPS dayswhile on a canoe trip through the chain of lakes in Canadas Quetico Provincial park, our professional guide expertly got us through about 100 miles of wilderness, without ever using a compass. 3 Navigation: Compass Basics Read, Understand, and Remember! Orient the map to the terrain. On your map, place your compass. Go to your map. Center the compass on the map, with one of the baseplates long edges running between the two places of interest. To prevent this issue, well tweak our compass to account for declination. This is because it is prepped to point instead to magnetic north once its lined up with your compass needle. Battle tested - shock, water, sand proof, and. Youll see that it shows two arrows when you turn your headset or controllers around to show the new orientation of a map. Using your compass, take a heading to a visible landmark. ), Podcast #858: The Affectionate, Ambiguous, and Surprisingly Ambivalent Relationship Between Siblings, How to Fight Entitlement and Develop Gratitude in Your Kids, How and Why to Hold a Weekly Marriage Meeting, You Dont Have to Be Your Dad: How to Become Your Familys Transitional Character, Podcast #810: How to Turn a Boy Into a Man, Sunday Firesides: Climb the Ladder of Love, Podcast #865: How to Win Friends and Influence People in the 21st Century, Podcast #863: Key Insights From the Longest Study on Happiness, Podcast #875: Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills, Podcast #874: Throw a 2-Hour Cocktail Party That Can Change Your Life, 9 Mental Distortions That Are Sabotaging Your Social Life, How to Make the Perfect Snowball: An Illustrated Guide, Podcast #869: The Survival Myths That Can Get You Killed, Skill of the Week: Survive Falling Through Ice, Podcast #848: The 5 Priorities of Short-Term Survival, we covered how to properly use a compass, how to shootyour bearings, and the best map for navigating: the topo map, Land Navigation Manual: How to Use the Military Grid Reference System, Land Navigation Manual: Finding Your Bearings & Topo Maps, More Than Just Finding North: Understanding the Compass, Podcast #534: How Navigation Makes Us Human. Using your location as a pivot, rotate the compass until north on the bezel is pointing to the top of the map and the compass housing orienting lines are parallel with the maps vertical grid lines. My 159-page, fully illustrated book is yours for the asking. 4. Lets move to the opposite coast of the U.S. Lets say youre in the Adirondacks of New York. You should notice that the direction of travel arrow should be pointing at the top of the map, and the black orienteering lines should also be parallel to the north-south gridlines on the map. A: To rotate a map in Beat Saber, you can hit the trigger button on your controller. PART 1 Basic Land Navigation USING THE MILITARY LENSATIC COMPASS Module 6 Map Information. Navigate to your map. Lets break down the individual parts of a lensatic compass so you can understand every element behind how it works. Its not as easy to get lost on land without a map and compass. Heres our step-by-step guide to the most straightforward. The following 30-minute U.S. Army training video from 1966 shows how to find your direction, orientation, and location with a mil-spec lensatic compass. As long as you can hold the compass level and steady, the exact grip doesn't matter. Step 3: Find a path that leads to the horizon. For sighting purposes, we recommend using the compass-to-cheek method for better accuracy. Lay the map out flat in front of you. Open the cover completely and pull back the rear sight. Kieran James Cunningham is a climber, mountaineer, and author who divides his time between the Italian Alps, the US, and his native Scotland. The red end of the needle must be pointing to the top of the map. So your true bearing would be 166. Lay your map out in front of you on a relatively flat and smooth (and dry!) Now draw the bearing line using the edge of the compass, and extending it in the desired direction. PART 1 Basic Land Navigation. Half the activity of their sport is keeping their map oriented so they can navigate faster and with more accuracy. Navigation has taken on many forms over the years. Because my magnetic declination is 4E, Ill move the black arrow outline to the red hash marks next to E DECL.. Your email address will not be published. When moisture seeps into the lens case of your lensatic compass, it causes major problems. Turn your entire body as a unit until your predetermined azimuth falls under the fixed black index line.