U.S. Army Map Reading and Land Navigation Handbook

by U.S. Department of the Army

For a soldier, knowing where you are is a matter of life and death, and so it comes as no surprise that the Army has produced the most complete, clear, and thorough guide to map reading and navigation available.
The book starts with a comprehensive explanation of the meaning and uses of maps, whether photographic, planimetric (standard-style) or topographic, then progresses to discuss the use of those maps, discussing compass techniques, celestial navigation, and determination of distance. There is a detailed section on interpreting topographic maps, with notes on tactical considerations for differing terrain, as well as determining the ease of movement through an area.

Chapters

Training Strategy - Maps -Marginal Information and Symbols - Grids - Scale and Distance -Direction - Overlays - Aerial Photographs - Navigation Equipment and Methods - Elevation and Relief - Terrain Association - Mounted Land Navigation - Navigation in Different Types of Terrain - Unit Sustainment

There is also information on field sketching, the tricky art of map folding, units of measure and conversion factors, map symbols, orienteering, and the global positioning system (GPS).
For the adult outdoorsman venturing into the wild, the Boy Scout, or the serious military buff, the Army's guide to map reading and navigation is an indispensable must.

Genres: Self Reliance, Outdoors, Survival

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

The Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.

The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)

The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

With GPS, map reading and land navigation using maps is fast becoming a lost art. This pocket-sized Army manual [FM 21-26] explains the key components of a map and how to use them in simple language. It also covers compasses and ariel photographs. This is a handy reference for outdoorsmen, hunters, and scouts as well as the average layman. Its one drawback is the small sized type using in printing the book to save space.

[Rachel Bayles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly written and well laid out.