LESSON 1
MAP READING
INTRODUCTION TO MAPS
Reference:
Aids:
Manual of Map Reading and Land Navigation
1.
Slide 1/1 to 1/13.
Place of Work:
2.
Two 1:50,000 map sheets per student.
Classroom
3.
Pencil and paper per student.
Student Dress:
Administration:
Working Dress
1.
Equipment:
lesson.
Projector and Screen
2.
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Time Allowed:
3.
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40 Minutes
4.
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5.
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6
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Read the Instructors Notes before the
BEGINNING OF LESSON
STAGE
CONTENT
Revision
Not applicable.
Aim
The aim of this lesson is to introduce you to military maps.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson students will:
Reasons Why
Incentive
1.
Know how to take care of maps.
2.
Understand map scales and scale lines.
3.
Be able to uniquely identify a military map.
So that you can:
1.
Neatly fold your map for safe storage and prolong its life.
2.
Identify your map simply and uniquely.
3.
State the scale of your map.
Equipment and consumables are often in short supply on the battlefield.
Taking good care of your map will extend its life and help you to
continue to operate effectively.
When your map has to be replaced due either to fair wear and tear or to
relocation, precise identification of your needs will not only ensure you
get what you order but that you will get it quickly.
1-2
MIDDLE OF LESSON
INTRODUCTION
TO MAPS
Maps are used everywhere in daily life. You may have used a road
map purchased at a garage, the Underground map in London or a town
plan of an unfamiliar town to find you way around.
These are all special purpose maps.
During your Military career you will use a variety of different maps.
These are some examples:
SLIDE 1/1
What are maps?
SLIDE 1/2
They are a simplified vertical view of the ground reduced in size onto
an easily handled piece of paper, showing the outlines of features as
they appear from above.
SLIDE 1/3
Most of the maps used by the military are topographical maps which
are general purpose maps showing the shape of the ground and the
features on it.
SLIDE 1/4
The maps you will use in training will be the Series M726, the
1:50,000 scale topographical map of the UK.
You have an example of one in front of you.
When you finish training you may have to use other military maps
such as the 1:50,000 scale maps of Germany (M745) or Cyprus
(K717).
SLIDE 1/5
You will then have to adapt the map reading skills taught on this
course to those maps.
Any Questions
Questions from the class.
Confirmation
Questions to the class on maps.
What is a map?
ANSWER: A simplified vertical view of the ground, reduced in size
onto a piece of paper.
What are topographical maps?
ANSWER:
SLIDE 1/6
CARE OF MAPS
How can you look after your maps?
‘E’
The instructor EXPLAINS:
You need to keep your map as clean as possible and not obscure map
information by writing all over it. There will, of course, be occasions
when it is necessary to write or draw on a map. Keep these occasions
to a minimum and always use a pencil as a pen mark cannot be
removed.
1-3
Folding a map will also help to keep it clean and may make it easier to
use. If the map is correctly folded to fit into a pocket, then its life can
be extended considerably and its good condition maintained.
‘D’
The instructor them DEMONSTRATES the correct method of
folding an M726 map.
See Instructors Notes
‘I’
The instructor then folds a map with the students IMITATING him.
‘P’
Students PRACTISE folding another map without instruction.
The instructor supervises, advises, encourages and corrects as
necessary.
You can see that the map has been designed to fold easily into a
convenient size with the cover outermost. Additionally, the map
pocket on uniform trousers is designed and positioned not only to
hold a map but also to keep it as flat as possible.
Caring for your map does not stop at correctly folding it!
Preventing it from getting wet and dirty will extend its life; keeping
any marking or line work on the face of the map to a minimum will
reduce the degree of obliteration of the underlying information.
Any Questions
Note: Security considerations may preclude any map marking.
Questions from the class.
Confirmation
Question to the class on the care of maps.
How do you take care of your maps?
ANSWER:
1.
Fold maps correctly so that the cover is outwards and it fits in
the pocket.
2.
Keep maps dry and clean.
3.
Keep line work and markings to a minimum.
SCALE AND MAP Scale is the relationship between the size of a model and the size of
the real object.
SCALE
SLIDE 1/7
Scale is therefore the number of times that a model is smaller than the
original.
Map scales can be expressed in four ways:
1.
2.
3.
4.
SLIDE 1/8
As a ratio, eg. 1:50,000 or 1 to 50,000.
By a scale line.
In words, eg. 2cm to 1km or 2cm equals 1km.
As fraction, eg. 1/50,000.
The maps you will be using are at a scale of 1:50,000. 2cm on these
maps equals 2 x 50,000cm or 1km on the ground.
Put another way, each kilometre on the ground is reduced 50,000
times to become 2cm on the map.
Instructor to show the location of the ratio, scale line and written
statement on the Series M726 map sheet.
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Any Questions
Questions from the class.
Confirmation
Questions to the class on map scales.
How are map scales shown?
ANSWER:
1.
As a ratio, eg. 1:50,000 or 1 to 50,000.
2.
By a scale line.
3.
In words, eg. 2cm to 1km or 2cm equals 1km.
4.
As a fraction, eg. 1/50,000
If we measure a distance on a 1:50,000 map of 4cm what will be the
equivalent distance on the ground?
SLIDE 1/9
ANSWER: 2km.
Identification panels are situated in two opposite corners of all
MAP
IDENTIFICATION military map series. They look like this:
SLIDE 1/10
This is where they are situated on the map:
Instructor to show the panels on the map
They contain three elements:
1.
Map Series.
2.
Sheet Number.
3.
Edition Number.
SERIES
Different series are designed to meet different needs in different areas
of the world. The series you will be using is called M726.
SHEET
A series is made up of a number of maps all of the same design.
Series M726 covers the UK and consists of 204 different maps.
SLIDE 1/11
EDITION
Individual maps are updated from time to time. When this happens,
the third element, the edition number of the map, is changed. The
user must always use the current edition. This is the map with the
highest edition number.
To positively identify a map, quote the:
Map Series
Sheet Number
Edition Number
as shown in the Identification Panel on the map.
See Instructors Notes
Any Questions
Question from the class.
Confirmation
Questions to the class on map identification
What are the three items that identify a military map?
ANSWER: Map Series, Sheet Number, and Edition Number
1-5
END OF LESSON
Questions from the
Class
Questions on the whole lesson.
Test on the Whole
Lesson
Write down or give verbal answers to these questions.
1.
If two points are 10km apart on the ground, what is the
distance between the same two points on a 1:50,000 scale map?
SLIDE 1/12
ANSWER: 20cm.
2.
If two points are 9cm apart on the map, how far apart are the
same two points on the ground?
SLIDE 1/13
ANSWER: 4.5km.
3.
List the three items of information needed to positively
identify a military map?
ANSWER: Map Series Number, Sheet Number, Edition Number.
4.
What is the significance of edition number and why is it
essential that all users use the latest edition of a map?
ANSWER: The content or information on the map changes. It is
essential that all users are working on the same edition of a map
because orders may relate to detail which is not shown on older
editions. Military orders must specify the edition of a map being used.
Pack Equipment
Pass answer papers to the front.
Hand in stores.
Summary
A map is defined as a drawing of a vertical view of the ground
reduced in size and simplified to avoid clutter.
Remember to protect and care for your map by folding it correctly and
keeping it clean and dry.
Keep marking or line work on a map to a minimum.
To identify a map quote the:
Map Series Number
Sheet Number
Edition Number
These are found in the identification panel at the top and bottom of all
military maps.
Series M726 are the current 1:50,000 maps of the UK and are used for
recruit training.
Look Forward
In the next Map Reading lesson you will be shown how to use grid
reference to report positions.
1-6
INSTRUCTORS NOTES
1.
Examples of military maps and map indexes may be obtained from your local Map
Depot or store, or from MOD Map and Air Chart Depot using MOD Form 88.
2.
Instructors must practise folding maps until they are fully conversant with the
procedure before taking this lesson.
3.
Questions on map scale set by the instructor must be simple and clearly shown on
visual aids.
4.
The instructor must emphasise that skills learnt are applicable to all military mapping
world wide. Units should familiarise soldiers with maps which cover their operational area.
5.
A student may ask how a user knows if he is holding the latest edition. The answer is
that MOD Map Catalogue holders are advised of edition changes by an Amendment Bulletin.
However, most users will only know which is the current edition when they indent on a Map
Depot and are issued with the current/latest edition. Map Depots will provide information on
current edition numbers if requested. Units should have an SOP which directs that old
editions are to be scrapped on receipt of new editions.
6.
Instructors should be aware of the different kinds of military map series designations.
These are:
Standard Series Designations (SSD), such as M726
Geographical Section of the General Staff Designation (GSGS Numbers).
Miscellaneous Series Designations (Misc. Numbers).
Office Reference Map Designations (OR Numbers).
Full details are in the Introductory Notes to MOD Map Catalogues. It is not necessary for
recruits to know the details of SSD but if asked, and the instructor has the time, then:
M
is used for series falling in the European Region.
7
indicates the scale group which includes 1:50,000 series.
2
indicates the British Isles sub-region of Europe.
6
indicates the sixth published series in the 1:35,000 to 1:70,000 scale band in
that sub-region.
7.
Ensure that the maps used for folding practise are retained and used for future
lessons/exercises.
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