Map Reading And Land Navigation

Question 1

What are the 5 major terrain features on a map?

Answer 1

Hill, valley, ridge, saddle, and depression.

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Question 2

What are the 3 minor terrain features on a map?

Answer 2

Draw, spur, and cliff

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Question 3

What do the 5 colors on a military map represent?

Answer 3

1. Black: man made objects
2. Brown: contour, elevation, and relief
3. Blue: water
4. Green: vegetation
5. Red: densely populated areas and other man made objects on older maps.

Keep in mind this doesn’t hold true for all maps. Color representation can always be found in the map legend. You could also give this answer if you forget any of the above, easy way to cheat the board.

Question 4

What map system does the Army use?

Answer 4

The army uses the military grid reference system (MGRS)

Keep in mind, the MGRS is derived from the universal transverse Mercator (UTM) system, but uses a simplified labeling system to dumb land nav down for soldiers.

Question 5

Where is the legend located on a military map?

Answer 5

The lower left margin

Question 6

Where is the declination diagram located on a military map?

Answer 6

Lower margin typically towards the center.

Question 7

What kind of compass is used for military land navigation?

Answer 7

The lensatic compass

Question 8

How many degrees are in a circle?

Answer 8

360 degrees

Question 9

How many mils are in a circle?

Answer 9

6400 mils

Question 10

What is due north in degrees?

Answer 10

360 degrees equals North

Question 11

What is due East in degrees?

Answer 11

90 degrees equals East

Question 12

What is due south in degrees?

Answer 12

180 degrees equals south

Question 13

What is due west in degrees?

Answer 13

270 degrees equals west

Question 14

What is the difference between true north, grid north, and magnetic north? And which two are used for land navigation purposes?

Answer 14

1. True North: Each day the earth rotates about its axis once. The ends of the axis at any given time represent true north (North Pole) and the South Pole. True north on a map is the direction of a line of longitude which converges on the North Pole.
2. Grid north: grid north is the result of creating grid lines on a map for land navigation purposes. Because it’s impossible to represent true north precisely using grids, grid north becomes a thing. Varies only slightly from true north and makes no difference for land navigation purposes.
3. Magnetic north: magnetic north is the direction your compass needle points.

Question 15

What is the difference between grid north and magnetic north called?

Answer 15

The difference between the two is called the grid-magnetic (G-M) angle. The G-M angle is what you must calculate to convert magnetic azimuth to grid azimuth for land navigation.

Question 16

What is the universal rule for converting G-M angles for land navigation purposes?

Answer 16

If your declination diagram angle is pointing East (to the right) subtract the G-M angle from the grid azimuth to convert grid to magnetic azimuth. And opposite if your G-M angle on the declination diagram is pointing west (to the left)

Remember: left add right subtract.

Question 17

How do you calculate back azimuth for land navigation?

Answer 17

A back azimuth is calculated by adding 180 degrees to the azimuth when the azimuth is less than 180 degrees and subtracting 180 degrees from the azimuth if it is more than 180 degrees.

Question 18

What scale is used on a military map?

Answer 18

1:50,000

Note: The map scale ratio gives you the comparative distance on the map to the distance on the ground. Ex. 1:50,000 just means that one unit of measure on the map equals one unit of measure on the ground. So 1 meter on the map represents 50,000 meters on the ground.

Question 19

What is the difference between a statute mile and nautical mile as listed on a maps scale?

Answer 19

A nautical mile measures the difference between two locations measured by traveling from one or the other over water or air. NOT used in land navigation only included for charting purposes.
A statute mile is what we would consider a normal mile on land and IS used for land nav.

Note: Because of the difference in the way the two are calculated, a nautical mile is established as a distance of 6,080 feet and 5,280 feet for a statute mile.

Question 20

What FM covers map reading and land navigation?

Answer 20

FM 3-25.26

Question 21

Name 2 ways to orient a map.

Answer 21

Use a compass and terrain Association.

Question 22

How close will an 8 digit grid get you to your point?

Answer 22

Within 10 meters

Question 23

What must be done to a map before it can be used?

Answer 23

It must be oriented.

Question 24

Name two ways to hold a compass.

Answer 24

1. Compass-to-cheek method

2. Center-Hold method

Question 25

How many mils are in one degree?

Answer 25

17.7 mils

Question 26

What are two supplementary terrain features found on a military map?

Answer 26

Cut and fill.

Question 27

What is the general rule for reading military grid coordinates?

Answer 27

Right and up.

Question 28

What does the term intersection mean?

Answer 28

Finding the location of an unknown point by sighting two or more known points.

Question 29

What does the term resection mean?

Answer 29

Method of locating one’s position on a map by determining the grid azimuth to at least two well defined locations that can be pinpointed on the map.

Question 30

What are two methods of measuring an azimuth?

Answer 30

Compass and protractor.

Question 31

What is modified resection?

Answer 31

The method of locating one’s position on a map when the person is located on a linear feature on the ground, such as a road, canal, or stream.

Question 32

What are the ways to determine your location on a map?

Answer 32

Resection, modified resection, and intersection.

Note: remember the acronym RIM for easy recall.

Question 33

What are the three land navigation methods?

Answer 33

Dead reckoning, moving by terrain association, and combination of techniques.

Question 34

As it relates to land navigation, what is the purpose of pacing?

Answer 34

To determine an estimated distance on the ground.