Map Reading and Land Navigation

Question 1

What is longitude?

Answer 1

Longitude lines run north to south (top to bottom) and are at right angles to latitude lines. They are also called meridians.

Question 2

What map scale are soldiers most likely to encounter?

Answer 2

1:75,000 (1 inch = 75,000 meters)

Question 3

Where are the instructions for reading the map to be found?

Answer 3

The map reading instructions can be found in the marginal information and may include items such as scales, the sheet name and number, a declination diagram, an elevation guide, and more.

Question 4

What does red on a map mean?

Answer 4

Red indicates cultural features such as populated areas, main roads, and boundaries on old maps.

Question 5

What is latitude?

Answer 5

Latitude lines run east to west (left to right) and are at right angles to longitude lines. They indicate the distance of a point north or south of the equator.

Question 6

What does green on a map mean?

Answer 6

Green indicates vegetation with military significance such as woods, orchards, and vineyards.

Question 7

How is a ridge designated on a map?

Answer 7

A ridge is a series of connected hills, with multiple smaller circles in a line surrounded by contour lines.

Question 8

What is resection?

Answer 8

Resection is the process of locating one’s position on a map by determining the grid azimuth to at least two (preferably three) well-defined locations that can be pinpointed on the map.

Question 9

What are the three parts of a lensatic compass?

Answer 9

1. The cover: protects the floating dial and has a sighting wire and two luminous sighting dots
2. The base: contains the floating dial, two scales, a glass top with fixed black index lines, a bezel ring, and a thumb loop
3. The lens: used to read the dial and includes the rear sight slot

Question 10

What are the two methods for holding/using a compass?

Answer 10

1. The center hold technique: Hold the cover and base parallel to the ground with the lens angled towards the user; the non-dominant thumb sits below the bezel ring
2. The compass-to-check technique: Hold the base parallel to the ground, with the lens and cover angled to use both and see the dial; the compass is held against the cheek in line with the nose

Question 11

What does blue on a map mean?

Answer 11

Blue indicates water features such as lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage.

Question 12

What is declination?

Answer 12

Declination is the angular difference between any two norths and is also known as the grid-magnetic (G-M) angle value. A soldier is typically interested in declination of grid and magnetic norths.

Question 13

What is intersection?

Answer 13

Intersection is a the process of locating an unknown point by successively occupying at least two (preferably three) known positions on the ground and then map sighting on the unknown location.

Question 14

What does black on a map mean?

Answer 14

Black indicates manmade features such as buildings and roads.

Question 15

What does red-brown on a map mean?

Answer 15

Red-brown indicates cultural features, all relief features, and elevation such as contour lines on red-light readable maps.

Question 16

What is an azimuth?

Answer 16

An azimuth is a horizontal angle measured clockwise from a north base line.

Question 17

How is a draw designated on a map?

Answer 17

A draw is a part of the mountain that draws up and into the mountain, with the contour lines sharply drawn in between contour lines indicating peaks.

Question 18

What is a back azimuth?

Answer 18

A back azimuth is an about face from the azimuth. To calculate the back azimuth:
If the azimuth is less than 180, add 180.
If the azimuth is greater than 180, subtract 180.
If the azimuth is 180, the back azimuth is 0.

Question 19

What is a map?

Answer 19

A map is a graphic representation of a portion of the earth’s surface drawn to scale, as seen from above.

Question 20

How is a depression designated on a map?

Answer 20

A depression is a complete circle contour line with no further contour lines within it, but with interior tick marks to indicate a steep decline.

Question 21

What are the three types of north?

Answer 21

1. True north: a line from any point on the earth’s surface to the North Pole; indicated by a vertical line with a star on top
2. Magnetic north: the direction to the North Magnetic Pole, as indicated by the north-seeking needle of a magnetic instrument; indicated by a diagonal line with N on top
3. Grid north: the North established by using the vertical lines on the map; indicated by a vertical line with GN on either side of the line at the top

Question 22

What is a magnetic azimuth?

Answer 22

A magnetic azimuth is an azimuth determined by using a magnetic instrument such as lensatic and MZ compasses.

Question 23

What is a grid azimuth?

Answer 23

A grid azimuth is the measured azimuth as drawn on a map connecting two points on the map with a straight line.

Question 24

How is a spur designated on a map?

Answer 24

A spur is a part of the mountain that sticks down and out of the mountain, with the contour lines sharply drawn away from contour lines indicating peaks.

Question 25

How is a cliff designated on a map?

Answer 25

A cliff is indicated by contour lines that come together into a single line and may include ticks in the direction of the slope.

Question 26

What is movement by terrain association?

Answer 26

Movement by terrain association is done by identifying multiple points on a map and moving from Point A to Point B by referencing what you see to what is on the map.

Question 27

What does brown on a map mean?

Answer 27

Brown indicates relief features and elevation such as contour lines on older maps and cultivated land on red-light readable maps.

Question 28

What are the properties of a military grid?

Answer 28

Military grids are true rectangular grids superimposed on a geographic map that permits linear and angular measurements.

Question 29

How do you move the protractor when using a military grid?

Answer 29

The grid always starts in the lower left grid square. The protractor moves to the right, then up.

Question 30

How is a cut designated on a map?

Answer 30

A manmade cut through raised ground is indicated by three parallel lines with interior ticks on the outside lines. The parallel lines run through the contour lines.

Question 31

What are the five major terrain features on a map?

Answer 31

Hill
Valley
Ridge
Saddle
Depression

Question 32

How is a saddle designated on a map?

Answer 32

A saddle is a slightly lower space between two hills, shown as an hourglass area between the complete circle contour lines for hills.

Question 33

How is a fill designated on a map?

Answer 33

A manmade fill of lower ground is indicated by three parallel lines with exterior ticks on the outside lines and ticks through the middle line. The parallel lines run through the contour lines.

Question 34

How is a hill designated on a map?

Answer 34

A hill is a raised area, indicated as concentric complete circles.

Question 35

How is a valley designated on a map?

Answer 35

A valley is an area significantly lower than the area around it, indicated as an area of no contour lines between hills and ridges.

Question 36

What is at least one navigation method that does not use a compass?

Answer 36

1. Shadow tip method
2. Watch method
3. Star method

Question 37

How do you determine the elevation of a point on a map?

Answer 37

1. Check the contour interval
2. Find the given elevation
3. Determine the direction of the slope
4. Count the contour lines

Question 38

What are the three minor terrain features on a map?

Answer 38

Draw
Spur
Cliff

Question 39

What are the two supplementary terrain features on a map?

Answer 39

Cut

Fill

Question 40

What does the scale on a map permit the user to do?

Answer 40

The soldier can easily convert ground distance to map distance and vice versa.

Question 41

What is the best method to use to navigate around an obstacle?

Answer 41

When approaching an obstacle, stop the count and step to the left or right perpendicular to the original direction of travel. Count the steps in the direction you choose. Once the obstacle has been cleared horizontally, step forward and resume the original count. When the obstacle has been cleared vertically, step in the opposite direction perpendicular to the original direction of travel in the same number of steps. Finally, continue stepping forward and resume the step count.