Land Navigation - Lensatic Compass and Map Use

This is the corrected version of my previous, with actually valid information this time. Shows how to use the USGI issue lensatic compass to orient the map, plot a course based on two well-defined positions on a map and set the compass so you can get up and walk that course.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• compass
• map
• landnavigation
• navigation
• bearing
• heading
• lensatic
• training
• mgrs

[dranuahsnauj]

Hey Sir,

I have a competition coming up with day and night land navigation. Are there any other tricks that can help me find my points? I know the basics of map reading, but are there any advanced techniques you know?

[shoobe01]

@dranuahsnauj Nope. Everything I know I know is in here. When I come up with something else I know, I'll make the time, and find a new presentation camera and put it up here.

Oh, well except maybe: Practice. Use your general skills when just driving around town. Pace count inside the grocery store. Etc. Practice until it's all second nature.

[rayman1968]

Hi Shoobe,

I'm a backpacker who has always used a base plate compass with USGS 1:24k topos. Can a lensatic compass be used with 1:24k maps? As someone who has always used the 1-2-3 method with a compass that has adjustable declination, the lensatic theory does confuse me a bit.

[shoobe01]

@rayman1968 Of course. The only thing that can possibly cause trouble is if you have to use the compass for scale. And not all baseplates have the same scale systems built into them. The USGI lensatic doesn't really have one at all, and it's all direct measurement.

Anyway, if you might need to use maps of arbitrary scale (but which DO have a scale) then there's a nice trick... which I cannot find on the internet. Continued in next post...

[shoobe01]

Drat. Tried and it's confusing without pictures. Remind me next weekend if I haven't put anything up.

[wcoy79]

This video was extremely precise, informative, and to the point. If only the majority of people who made youtube videos actually took the time to make an informative video, instead of just making a video to "hear themselves talk"!!!

[shoobe01]

@wcoy79 Thanks... these confuse the hell out of my 11 year old. Assumes my boringness would mean no one watches them. At least 20% of my enjoyment of this is that it's fun to baffle children.

[MSR465]

Great video! Where can I get that type of a map?

[gershonbenfranja]

Nice video.

To help recall how variation is used try the saying "In the west, truth is greater than magnetism." I couldn't see your variation. Say it was 15. You know your map is west of about Chicago. So true heading is greater than mag. Lay the baseplate along a longitude line and rotate the map so 345 is under the index line. Nice tip on aligning the glow in the dark bar with the north arrow at this time.

[grnbrt777]

Question where could I get a map like that? To practice.

[grnbrt777]

Question where could I get a map like that? To practice.

[grnbrt777]

Question where could I get a map like that?

[joeyXDface]

@Lovelife627 yes

[Lovelife627]

Is this also the proper way to orient your map for land navigation?

[mikilofo90]

....and, i still dont understand this "Einstain" compass

[amngilbert]

What about lateral drift?