Many years ago I had a sgt. Rock comic book, ( or one of the army comics from the 60s -70s ) there was one story that a couple u s guys were captured by the enemy, and whenever they took compass readings the soldier always took out his canteen fir a drink to throw off the compass
Well, this is old school navigation called "dead reckoning". This was the usual navigation practice before smartphones and gps ;-) We basically used this during our service all the time. Compass reading is supported by visual landmarks and you never walk that much on one leg that things like declination would play in. With cars, ships or planes yes. On foot, no. First you learn to calculate or estimate how much distance you cover with your pace (walking speed). Then you can do dead reckoning easy. Always identify visual landmarks on the map to lign up or correct your direction as direction pointed out by a compass may vary significantly depending which ground you have under your feet or objects close by. Thus, keep the "legs" (way you walk in one direction) short.
Good stuff. Basic compass without going into map reading. Remember that everyone drifts left or right to some degree. When using dead reckoning I try to pick a few different points along my route because depending on terrain, you may lose sight of your points along the way. Also I’ve found that if I can identify a linear feature close to my objective, I can deliberately shoot for left or right of it to compensate for my drift. I know I drift to the left so I usually aim for a point left of where I want to go. Been a lot of years since this old Ranger used these skills, I may try and get back into it.
Great video. Iv been land Surveying in the remote areas of northern Alberta Canada for 10 years, And 6 years in the Infantry before that. Im also a mountain climber and back country skier. This is all great and accurate information. I teach navigation for the alpine club of Canada. You guys should do a video on using terrain features for nav? I find it the most practical for most situation.
Last winter I was shooting bearings and trying to walk a grid in an open area. Short legs of 50m, and shoot a bearing on long legs of 300m. When I got back I checked my track on GPS. The bearings I shot from one side of the grid were off by several degrees compared to the returns beside them. Turns out the hiking trail on the edge of one of the sides had what I presume to be a buried cable or remains of a barbed wire fence or similar running along it under the snow. Big differences. Good tips for sure.
Handheld Compass and dead reckoning is pretty accurate. Taking the time to be "that guy" who has to be super precise during the day with great visibility and obvious terrain features...? Add hunger, fatigue, injury and time constraints and "that guy" isn't going to remember all that for accuracy. Planning is where you do all the accurate stuff. On the move, you're just looking for your next checkpoint with complicated directions of "No closer than 200m from the road and keep the river on your left". Balance, my friend; we'll get there. This video would have been of greater value to noobs if it mentioned the adjustment feature for magnetic deviation on current maps.
Excellent information. I would also add: check the magnetic declination for the area you are operating in beforehand and adjust your compass to be accurate in that area. You can download and laminate a "Magnetic Declination Map" free online.
Anyone else want to “add on” some information..Why do some of you watch the video if you’re a navigational expert already? Lot of critiques in the comment section. As a newbie I appreciate the information given in the video.
If you wear bifocals you will need them. I have regular glasses that I normally wear I found out if I can see land mark then I can't see compass. Wear your bifocals when doing compass work.
Mfw ironsights on rifles are now considered "old school" :D As to tips really great observations! I often see this issue when people hold the compass around the belt area - never thought a gun, knife or steel belt buckle might be the reason, we always thought "oh you must be holding it tilted"
Do you have recommendations for free or paid online training on land navigation? E.g. a complete course to prepare participants for operator-level navigational awareness. The fieldcraft offered courses are not near me.
I recently broke my Suunto. Accidentally fell out of my hands after getting it from my pack, it hit flat on top of a large, flat rock I was standing on and broke. Very disappointed. I've since replaced it with a Brunton TruArc 20. Seems to be in a much better protective casing. There's always the military lensatic compass in the metal housing but the real deal ones are anywhere $100-$200. I hope to get one of these down the road.
Don’t bother, the Suunto MC2 is better than the Cammenga Lensatic compass for the military. Most guys I know from the military prefer the Suunto over the lensatic. They do make a more durable, robust version of the MC2 called the MB-6. Check it out.
Yeah ya might have mentioned knowing your locational declination. You know that as little as 1 degree off at distance can mean miles & miles (growing exponentially) off target location.
Love this! Is there anywhere we can talk deeply between all of us about the things taught. For example, you gave me an idea perhaps is nonsense...wouldnt it be nice to have a compass with a bubble level (like the construction rulers type) so you can always hold it flat when you check your direction?
Thank yall for this. I'm now in my outdoor skills part of learning, 2 years ago was firearms then prepping and now doing outdoor survival stuff, my plan is to destroy the cartels and help the innocent kids they traffick
That's actually what I want to do as well. I'm getting off my butt and getting serious finally. Not going to go anywhere if all I do is dream. Thankfully my body is recovering from some intense injuries I got a while ago, and I'm getting to a really good point of fitness. Knowledge is a full half of the equation though. At least.
Civ-bois are soooo funny when they talk land nav. They've heard some of us ground-pounders and scouts talk about it as they bring us our beer and suddenly they think they are experts. If you can read a map, you likely don't need a compass. If you can't read a map, you definitely don't need a compass.
This is clearly just some pointers on getting accurate compass readings, not a full-fledged step by step instruction on land nav. Plenty of other YT videos on the topic though...😉
I used to know how to use a compass ..after this video, not so sure ! Damn your confusing ! Something so simple you just made MONUMENTALLY CONFUSING !!! WFT !!!! Not a fan of ... maybe dog walking is more your pace, please!
Practice practice practice.
I've not focused on basic land nav at all lately. Good reminder take the kids out hiking and work on these skills.
Many years ago I had a sgt. Rock comic book, ( or one of the army comics from the 60s -70s ) there was one story that a couple u s guys were captured by the enemy, and whenever they took compass readings the soldier always took out his canteen fir a drink to throw off the compass
Well, this is old school navigation called "dead reckoning". This was the usual navigation practice before smartphones and gps ;-) We basically used this during our service all the time. Compass reading is supported by visual landmarks and you never walk that much on one leg that things like declination would play in. With cars, ships or planes yes. On foot, no. First you learn to calculate or estimate how much distance you cover with your pace (walking speed). Then you can do dead reckoning easy. Always identify visual landmarks on the map to lign up or correct your direction as direction pointed out by a compass may vary significantly depending which ground you have under your feet or objects close by. Thus, keep the "legs" (way you walk in one direction) short.
Great breakdown explanation, between this and Kevin Owens' video on the basics that's a wealth of information right off the bat. Keep it up!
Just what I was looking for !
Less than two min in and hooked.... in part due to the Amtac blade!
Man, have yall noticed the increase in production quality and editing on these field craft videos? I appreciate the new aesthetics
Love the knife. bill makes some good ones
Good stuff. Basic compass without going into map reading. Remember that everyone drifts left or right to some degree. When using dead reckoning I try to pick a few different points along my route because depending on terrain, you may lose sight of your points along the way. Also I’ve found that if I can identify a linear feature close to my objective, I can deliberately shoot for left or right of it to compensate for my drift. I know I drift to the left so I usually aim for a point left of where I want to go. Been a lot of years since this old Ranger used these skills, I may try and get back into it.
RLTW
Thanks! Very helpful.
I'd like to hear about compensating for magnetic declination.
Great video. Iv been land Surveying in the remote areas of northern Alberta Canada for 10 years, And 6 years in the Infantry before that. Im also a mountain climber and back country skier. This is all great and accurate information.
I teach navigation for the alpine club of Canada. You guys should do a video on using terrain features for nav? I find it the most practical for most situation.
If safe to do so, always travel in the path of least resistance
My neighbors fences and thoughts on property lines were all off.
One word, my friend,
Declination.
Last winter I was shooting bearings and trying to walk a grid in an open area. Short legs of 50m, and shoot a bearing on long legs of 300m. When I got back I checked my track on GPS. The bearings I shot from one side of the grid were off by several degrees compared to the returns beside them. Turns out the hiking trail on the edge of one of the sides had what I presume to be a buried cable or remains of a barbed wire fence or similar running along it under the snow. Big differences. Good tips for sure.
Thorough and concise, excellent brief
I have never used the minor sight! I learned something new today. Thanks!
Give compass to 2nd LT. Sit down, eat MRE, change socks, check troops gear, ruck up, take compass from Lt looking the wrong way and March.
Thank you
Don't forgett to watch out for old iron ore mines. They will have a funny influence on navigation... learned that the hard way
Great information! Beautiful scenery. Peace
Handheld Compass and dead reckoning is pretty accurate. Taking the time to be "that guy" who has to be super precise during the day with great visibility and obvious terrain features...?
Add hunger, fatigue, injury and time constraints and "that guy" isn't going to remember all that for accuracy.
Planning is where you do all the accurate stuff. On the move, you're just looking for your next checkpoint with complicated directions of "No closer than 200m from the road and keep the river on your left".
Balance, my friend; we'll get there.
This video would have been of greater value to noobs if it mentioned the adjustment feature for magnetic deviation on current maps.
What about the one that comes with the USCCA welcome package?
Good for the basics. Next is how to introduce magnetic variation (declination)? These Silva Ranger compasses are excellent.
Excellent information. I would also add: check the magnetic declination for the area you are operating in beforehand and adjust your compass to be accurate in that area. You can download and laminate a "Magnetic Declination Map" free online.
Jim Greene, 30 yr SERE instructor taught me, always trust your compass
Anyone else want to “add on” some information..Why do some of you watch the video if you’re a navigational expert already? Lot of critiques in the comment section. As a newbie I appreciate the information given in the video.
Great video as always keepem coming guys!!!
I dunno, he had trouble locating the link above his head🤔
What's the blade in the thumbnail?
Great tips. Thanks!
If you wear bifocals you will need them. I have regular glasses that I normally wear I found out if I can see land mark then I can't see compass. Wear your bifocals when doing compass work.
Remember to set that declination angle
Mfw ironsights on rifles are now considered "old school" :D
As to tips really great observations! I often see this issue when people hold the compass around the belt area - never thought a gun, knife or steel belt buckle might be the reason, we always thought "oh you must be holding it tilted"
Do you have recommendations for free or paid online training on land navigation? E.g. a complete course to prepare participants for operator-level navigational awareness. The fieldcraft offered courses are not near me.
Thank you 👍
What maps does Fieldcraft use?
Is that the minuteman? What made you choose it over the Northman?
I recently broke my Suunto. Accidentally fell out of my hands after getting it from my pack, it hit flat on top of a large, flat rock I was standing on and broke. Very disappointed. I've since replaced it with a Brunton TruArc 20. Seems to be in a much better protective casing.
There's always the military lensatic compass in the metal housing but the real deal ones are anywhere $100-$200. I hope to get one of these down the road.
Don’t bother, the Suunto MC2 is better than the Cammenga Lensatic compass for the military. Most guys I know from the military prefer the Suunto over the lensatic. They do make a more durable, robust version of the MC2 called the MB-6. Check it out.
Great video! Never learned that in the Boy Scouts. I like your hat, too. Gray Gunsite 250 & 350 are two of the best firearms classes out there.
What about the good ole Lensatic Compass as compared to the Suunto?
Yeah ya might have mentioned knowing your locational declination. You know that as little as 1 degree off at distance can mean miles & miles (growing exponentially) off target location.
Nice vest
Solid presentation and through knowledge shared. I actually learned and was left wanting to learn more
Love this! Is there anywhere we can talk deeply between all of us about the things taught. For example, you gave me an idea perhaps is nonsense...wouldnt it be nice to have a compass with a bubble level (like the construction rulers type) so you can always hold it flat when you check your direction?
Nice.
Will I get an incorrect bearing if I set my compass on a slightly magnetic tree stump?
Nice blade; is that a Northman?
It looks like the Minuteman by Amtac
"Old school rifle shooters..." Oh wait, that is me.
But thank you for the excellent compass info.
What knife is that?
Let the stupid ones get lost, makes our life easier.
Nice knife. 😉
Is that a winkler knife?
Thank yall for this. I'm now in my outdoor skills part of learning, 2 years ago was firearms then prepping and now doing outdoor survival stuff, my plan is to destroy the cartels and help the innocent kids they traffick
You’re gonna need help
😅😅😅😅
That's actually what I want to do as well. I'm getting off my butt and getting serious finally. Not going to go anywhere if all I do is dream. Thankfully my body is recovering from some intense injuries I got a while ago, and I'm getting to a really good point of fitness. Knowledge is a full half of the equation though. At least.
Wow
Nice job... now let's talk watches.... was that a Sinn? Impressive.
What about declanation?
Civ-bois are soooo funny when they talk land nav. They've heard some of us ground-pounders and scouts talk about it as they bring us our beer and suddenly they think they are experts. If you can read a map, you likely don't need a compass. If you can't read a map, you definitely don't need a compass.
Missed the extreme importance of geographical declination. If the compass is not compensated for it, you'll be off by a lot in some areas!
Great video! I'm assuming this also is a good rule of thumb for the compasses that are on some of the watch bands? Those have to be affected too.
Where's the other guy?
fieldcraft 1000iq
would be nice to show what youre talking about camera.... I will continue to be lost I suppose
This is clearly just some pointers on getting accurate compass readings, not a full-fledged step by step instruction on land nav. Plenty of other YT videos on the topic though...😉
I don't know why you guys didn't use a map and show how to use the compass with a map, that's what people don't know how to do,.
Background music annoyingly loud
Did anyone else catch what he stated that is absolutely incorrect. He needs to stick to tactical strategies to kill people instead of navigation.
I used to know how to use a compass ..after this video, not so sure !
Damn your confusing ! Something so simple you just made MONUMENTALLY CONFUSING !!! WFT !!!!
Not a fan of ... maybe dog walking is more your pace, please!
EVERY THING IS WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF