Data preparation and azimuth motion

What is the essence of the azimuth movement and what is its order? Let's figure it out. If you have to walk on foot in the daytime in an open area, while focusing on the azimuth, the operation should begin with the definition of the specified direction and calculation of the distance in order to accurately reach the indicated point. Preliminary preparation of data for azimuth movement consists in calculating the route along a large-scale topographic map.

Stages of preparation

First of all, you should carefully study the terrain, then choose the route of movement and stake out intermediate points on its separate sections. The next stage is the calculation of the length of the segments of the path between them and the determination of the azimuth of the motion along each of the directions. In conclusion, you need to arrange the data directly on the map or make a separate scheme for the upcoming route.

By plotting a map on the map, indicate all the turns with the measurement of the direction angle on each of them. Also, the length of all straight sections is counted, then everything is transferred to other units. The direction angle leads to the magnetic azimuth, the distance in the case of the upcoming pedestrian motion is recounted in pairs of steps, if it is to move on the machines - the speedometer readings are taken into account.

How to move according to the scheme drawn up in advance

The sequence of actions is as follows: while at the initial reference point, calculate the azimuth of the direction in which you want to move to the next using the compass. Having reached the second of the landmarks and having specified the location of the location, again with the help of the same compass, they correct the direction of the forthcoming traffic to the next, third reference point.

In all other points, the actions are repeated in a similar way. The turning points of the route are determined the easier, the better the visibility conditions and the easier the relief. Much, in addition, depends on the accuracy of the calculations. Normally, the deviation lies within the 1 / 10th of the overcome path. This means that it is possible for 100 meters within each kilometer traveled. In case of loss of the planned landmark, thus, the search should begin within a circle with a radius of one-tenth of the last traversed segment.

In certain cases, for example, moving on snow on skis, the lengths of the track are measured approximately, being guided by the speed of skiers and the time spent. To compensate for inaccuracies, you should use clearly distinguishable reference points at the corners. As such, the moon or the sun can approach. The azimuth should be specified approximately every quarter of an hour. If such control is not carried out, there may be a significant discrepancy with the intended route.

How to avoid obstacles

It depends on the nature of the barrier and how large it is. If it is possible to distinguish the opposite side of the obstacle from the obstacle, then before the start it is marked with the number of pairs of steps passed and, having indicated the next landmark on its far side, calculate the distance between them, translate into pairs of steps and add to the planned in the route. Then they make an obstacle bypassing, moving to its distant intended point, where they restore the necessary direction of movement along the azimuth and continue the way. If the opposite side of the obstacle can not be distinguished, then when you approach the obstacle, you study the terrain, compute the azimuth in the direction along its boundary, from where they begin to move around, counting pairs of steps and observing the straightness of the route.

How to navigate the terrain at night

This task is an order of magnitude more complex than the orientation in the daytime. The review in the dark is limited, objects are difficult to distinguish, all distances are seen in a distorted form. For a confident orientation at night, you should carefully prepare. The frequency of reference points along the route should be increased and be 3 to 6 km.

Orientators at night should serve as objects that are clearly distinguishable on a celestial background. These include high towers, factory chimneys, church domes, etc., as well as the landmarks lying directly on the route line - railway crossings, bridges, etc. The route should also be divided into sections by rectilinear segments. At all, magnetic azimuth is calculated alternately, the suitability of the compass to work and the accuracy of the data of the car speedometer are pre-checked.

Night orientation: azimuth movement in dark conditions

Prior to the commencement of traffic, the planned route must be carefully studied and, if possible, remembered in order to make the calls to the map as small as possible. When driving on the route at night, the driver of the car is warned in advance about the upcoming landmarks, a reliable pocket lamp equipped with a blue filter is needed to illuminate the map's path. This light does not blind the eyes and allows you to simultaneously observe the surroundings.

Outside the road, the azimuth movement is made by the compass (as for the direction), the length of the traversed segments allows you to determine the speedometer of the car. Difficulties include the need to greatly strain your eyesight and problems with recognizing local objects. Often at night it is necessary to navigate through the heavenly stars - the stars or the moon. It is necessary to make a mandatory amendment to the fact that all of them, not counting the Polar Star, have the ability to move across the sky.

How to navigate, if visibility is limited

This term refers to conditions in which the optical visibility of objects is reduced due to smoke, fog, snow, rain or snowstorm, as well as increased dust content of the air. Often limited visibility is compared with night darkness, but here there are a number of differences - at night it is possible to use radio communication and lighting devices, the same unfavorable conditions that create limited visibility, often reduce the possibilities of such devices to naught. As a result, azimuth movement in such circumstances is often impracticable.

Radio communication suffers from flying at high speed particles of sand, dust or snow. Limited visibility can be an unpleasant reality almost at any time - in case of fire or use of nuclear weapons. Given the possibility of its occurrence, the route is prepared similarly to the upcoming night - in case of movement on hard-surfaced roads. Moving through the rest of the terrain is carried out according to the azimuths previously calculated on the map. Each such route should be carefully studied and remembered as best as possible. The movement should be recorded graphically on the map, noting all the data of the motion along the azimuth and intermediate points of its own location.

How to navigate in the forest

In this case, the difficulty lies in the limited scope of the survey and the meager number of landmarks. The route is usually laid on a dirt road or a clearing. Most of them are not recorded on any maps and are purely temporary. Studying the upcoming route, special attention should be paid to the nature of the terrain and water objects. In the directions along the sides of the horizon in the conditions of the forest, it is enough to simply orient oneself by local signs - the color and roughness of the bark, moss on stumps and trees. The sun, moon and constellations still serve as auxiliary landmarks.

Orientation in the city

The movement along the azimuth in the conditions of a large settlement is complicated by the limited nature of the survey. The route is laid along the main thoroughfares, trying to reduce the number of turns to a minimum. They are oriented on notable buildings, bridges, pipes of industrial enterprises.

If you are in the area of destruction, the task of orientation is greatly complicated. The reason is the discrepancy of the terrain in advance of the compiled map. In this case it is necessary to rely on the basic forms of the relief, marked in the form of contours. It should be borne in mind that the outlines of precipices, gullies and various gullies after the explosion are likely to be significantly changed, and it will be impossible to identify them by comparing them with the map.

The river beds are practically unaffected by changes, but if there has been a breakdown of a large hydraulic structure, vast areas of the terrain may be temporarily flooded. In these conditions, railways, as well as automobile ones, which have a hard surface, will serve as the most stable ones, even in conditions of partially destroyed canvas.

How to navigate in winter

Snow drifts smooth out the shape of the relief. Small ravines, pits, dirt roads lose their significance in this sense. Under the deep snow cover it is almost impossible to see small lakes, beams and streams. In winter, often a lot of temporary roads are laid, not displayed on the map.

In connection with all of the above, the difficulties of orientation in the winter time increase by an order of magnitude. It is possible to build a route in winter, I am guided by large objects, railways or column roads. If the azimuth is to be skied without any roads, you should use the compass with a look at the settlements and large bridges.