Stand in the place where you work

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Back in ‘04 our Scout Platoon was doing some integration training with the 11th ACR folks over at Ft. Irwin. While sitting in on a training meeting the subject came up of “degraded” land navigation. The First Sergeant was concerned that soldiers were becoming too dependent upon GPS units and that they were loosing their traditional land navigation and orienteering skills. Knowing that the Guard, non-enhanced units especially, is typically a couple of decades behind the active army when it comes to gear, the First Sergeant turned to me and asked me how we navigated out in the desert. I replied, “Just like everyone else, First Sergeant, with a star chart and a sextant,” where upon the discussion devolved into discovering just what a sextant was…

Anyway, I have always been a firm believer of carrying some form of reliable as gravity navigational equipment as a backup. For me, this means carrying a compass, and while the Army issue lensatic compass (the tritium illuminated kind) is reliable, my preferred compass is a commercial type manufactured by Silva. The Silva M15 Ranger Professional compass is simple, straight forward, and easy to operate. It has a sighting line and mirror to allow you to take accurate “cheek-hold” azimuth sightings, as well as a straightedge and ruler on one side for measuring. In addition it also has a couple of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales which make it handy for plotting your location or an airstrike without having to get out your map protractor (for you artillery guys out there there is also a version with a milliradian ring.)

The big thing the M15 has going for it, however, is a permanent offset capability for magnetic declination. What this means is if you ever find yourself out in the middle of nowhere engaged in some old school dirt beetle action, you can adjust your compass (using a set screw) to compensate for the grid-magnetic declination angle, which means no more conversion calculations. With an adjusted compass, whatever azimuth you plot on your map is the one you follow using your compass.

P.S. As mentioned previously, me and favorite things don’t seem to get along. While Silva seems to take great pride in touting the capabilities of the Ranger M15 compass, they offer no suggestions on where to get one in the US (the distributor they list for the US is Brunton.) As such, I would recommend the Brunton 15TDCL as an acceptable substitute for the Silva M15.

Get the Brunton 15TDCL here

Comments

[Ernest]

Is this it?

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=13870&memberId=12500226

[Eric Daniel]

Ernest,

When looking for a retailer for the M15 I saw several referenced to the Silva Ranger 515CL, which is what your link shows.

Now, while the description of the 515CL says that it has the set screw to do the grid-magnetic offset, I cannot see the actual set screw in the compass face. It may very well be that this compass is capable of grid-magnetic declination, but until I can physically check one of these compasses out, I didn't want to recommend the 515CL as a substitute for the M15.

I'm going to be doing some investigating next week to see if I can't find one of these (the 515CL) and check it out.

If it works, hats off to you for the link. Thanks.

[Jeff Heinrichs]

August 1st www.GovOutdoor.com will be offering Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy & Coast Guard discounts up to 50% off on Specialty outdoor products. Gov Outdoor|Go Outdoors| Go Get Geared Up! Tell your friends!

[Phil Bellefeuille]

THe CL in the model stands for "Clinometer", a device not found on earlier versions. Here is the product info, as listed at REI:
This winner of the 2003 Backpacker Magazine 's Editors' Choice Gold Award keeps you moving in the right direction!
This precise azimuth compass has a sighting mirror for taking accurate and quick bearings--great for serious and avid users
Liquid-filled rotating capsule with anti-static liquid stops needle swing in less than 4 seconds-- sapphire-jeweled needle for friction-free movement
Adjustable declination accounts for difference between true and magnetic north; lanyard key locks adjusted declination into place
Sighting mirror with vee notch allows quick bearing acquisition on landmarks and also folds down to protect compass
Includes a clinometer to measure slope angles- useful to winter travelers to help estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes
Features luminous points for better viewing, silicon map grippers on base, and meridian lines to help orient compass to map
Uses 0 - 360 degree azimuth scale in 2-degree increments
Includes has a removable 15 inch lanyard (30 inch circumference) with declination adjustment screwdriver
Guaranteed to be accurate -40- +140 degrees Fahrenheit
Meets or exceeds all forest service and military standards
Imported.
In the USA, you might try:
http://www.rei.com/product/408031; http://www.campmor.com/;

[John Adams]

As a former Ranger, current commercial helicopter pilot/flight instructor and avid sailor. I cannot even begin to stress the importance of basic navigation skills, land sea or air. Our younger generation needs to be taught the importance and satisfaction of the skill of navigation by foolproof means.

In 1990 I was teaching members of an aviation Rgt. simple basic skills to save their lives in a combat situation. Simple skills will save most anyone and the trick is to teach in a way to get their interest. My favorite way to get the attention of the troops was to take a simple .5 block in the middle of the night and then ask them where they were. We would then get down to the business of basic map skills, most would come back later and wish to learn more. Even a few would wish to learn the stars and sextant. To this day one of the most accurate methods for navigating, weather permitting. However if you know your way around a sextant, compass, topo, nautical and aviation chart - you will always be on top of the game.

[Matt]

You can get that compass from Construction Safety Products in Shreveport, Louisiana. The website is cspoutdoors.com. They have that exact compass, and various other Silva, Brunton, and Suunto compasses. I used to work for a forestry company, and we used CSP all the time.

[Matt]

I forgot something in my previous post. The set screw for magnetic declination is on the back of the compass. It is set with a small screwdriver that comes attached to the lanyard. We had a chart that told us the magnetic declination based upon what part of the state we were in, and adjusted accordingly. As far as magnetic declination in Iraq and other areas if you use the search term 'Qibla bearings table' you will find the magnetic declination of Baghdad.

[David]

I'm now on my 2nd Silva Compass. After 30 plus years of general wear and tear, my first on gave up the ghost. Whenever I'm out walking or hiking (or even driving outside my local area) I always carry my Silva. I always turned my US Army issued lensatic compass in and preferred my Silva Ranger. Even today with my GPS, I still feel more comfortable when I also have my Silva Compass and a Topo map available.

[Paul Johnson]

The Brunton Company is somehow owned by Silva. Consider also the 8099 ($79 MSRP) and 8099 Pro ($99 MSRP)series compasses. They are excellant compasses with even more feature than the 15TDCL ($69 MSRP). The 8040G is the one I use most, but it does not have the map scales built in. All have adjustable declination.

The warranty is lifetime, and I can vouch for the fact that the company will stand behind their product. They make the compasses in Riverton, Wyoming. I currently own over 100 compasses, mostly 8020Gs, for use with Hunter Education and Boy Scouts.

Like with all equipment, buy the best you can afford. These are quality instruments.
My favorite from their line is the Pocket Transit ($289), but it is bulky, and more of a professional instrument for an engineer or artillery than for the ground soldier.
The web site for Brunton is http://www.brunton.com/
God bless all, Paul

[T.E.Chester]

When I was in a scout unit in the Guard we had a land nav competition. Not knowing how to use the GPS (okay,I'm old so stop laughing) I used my Sliva compass and a map.
Does the term "Terrain Association" mean anything?
Well, we won. We beat out the other teams with the GPS.
So?
Well, reading a while back in Naval Proceedings, a Marine with a Recon unit had him marines work with both the GPS and the map and compass.
The reason? A good one: The compass doesn't need batteries.
They younger guys had come to rely on the GPS. Their map and compass skills got rusty really quick. In a tight situation, you don't need rusty skills.
Now, GPS off the shelf items are really nice. They'll even have an arrow to tell you which direction to go. They'll work on all types of maps, and even take military grids.
But if they go down, you're you'd better have your map and compass ready.

[JK Holt]

I am a professional forester (before that a grunt with the 1st CAV long ago) and have carried and relied on a Silva Ranger for 32 years in daily woods work. Can't beat it. Mine failed after 31 years and Silva replaced it with the CL version at no charge. Hard to beat a nearly indestructible lifetime compass.

[Jack]

Silva Ranger available online at www.cheaperthandirt.com (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15110-14562-580.html) and at REI nationwide. or online at http://www.rei.com/product/408031?vcat=REI_SEARCH

[Tom McFarland]

I went to the New York College of Forestry and the NY (Forest) Ranger School for college. The Silva Ranger is the standard issue compass, and after many many hours of navigating sans GPS, I will tell you it is the only one worth getting. It also comes in several flavors for different needs. It is as tough as balls, accurate and easy to use. As for availability, you can get them in several places. I think they even sell them in the supply store of my college (look up SUNY-ESF Small Stores). Make sure to get the Ranger Pro though. Silva has several models that look similar, but are not as good.

[vic keranen]

Looks like this is a comparable model available in the us -
http://www.thecompassstore.com/ranger1.html
$59 on sale now (06/14/07)

[David]

I have used a silva ranger for almost 40 years at least 4 times a week and have been though at least a couple. They were tougher when they had a metal case but the plastic is great too. I have never had one fail, the only problem I've had is that a bubble forms near the needle from either loss of fluid or too many freeze and thaws .
You can buy them all day long from either Ben Meadows in Atlanta GA or Forestry Suppliers in Jacksonville MS

[Pat]

I too have used the Silva Ranger for many years. Bought my first one, back in 1986, prior to attending the US Army Special Forces Qualification Course. It helped me complete the STAR land nav course and has worked everyewhere else in the world ever since. Still works to this day and is always on my kit anywhere I go. Highly recommend this life saving peice of gear.

[Don Barra]

The Silva/Brunton compass is available in the Calif area at REI & A16 backpacking/Recreation stores.