MAP
READING 101: Each of these maps are 1:50,000 scale and are the maps used
by infantry companies for navigation. The prefix to a coordinate, such
as YA, BT, CS, etc. refers to a large area and is not really needed for
navigation on these maps. The coordinate on a map is what you need to
find. As an example, let's take LZ Oasis as an example. On the list
below, LZ Oasis is listed at coord ZA114276 and is found on Map
Sheet 6536-1. The "ZA" refers to the overall area in which LZ Oasis is
found. The next six numbers (114276) are the ones on which we need to
concentrate.
RULE #1: COORDS
ARE READ RIGHT TO LEFT AND THEN BOTTOM TO TOP.
Each
"square" within the map is 1000 meters by 1000 meters.
In
the Oasis example, the first three numbers (114) tell us to go to
vertical (N-S) grid line 11 and then go right an additional 400
meters.
The
second three numbers tell us to go to horizontal (E-W) grid line 27 and
then up an additional 600 meters. |