Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post - NAV: back-bearing technique...a new technique??

CSB · 02-09-2004, 15:34

Here's a drawing I made to illustrate the technique our Canadian friend is talking about:

http://members.aol.com/cbjpegs/Backazi.jpg

STEP ONE - One man stays in place, while another walks as far forward as possible, generally along the desired azimuth, but only as far as will allow him to look back and see the first man.

STEP TWO - Instead of the near man attempting to steer the distant man onto the desired azimuth by looking forward and signaling ("left, left, right, hold it") ...

STEP THREE - The distant man shoots a back azimuth to the man at the starting position. From this, the distant man determines his miss distance (offset) from his current position to a line from the starting position along the desired azimuth.

STEP 4 - The distant man side steps the offset, bringing himself back into alignment with the starting man. When the man at the starting point is at the back azimuth of the man at the distant point, then the man at the starting point walks forward and joins the man at the distant point, thus traveling along the desired (forward) azimuth.

Will it work? Sure.
What's the advantage? It avoids the technique we have all seen of the man at the starting position yelling at a distant target man "Left, I mean your left, no no, my right, over here!, stop, now wait for me."

By using the back azumuth the man at the starting point need only stand clearly visible and let the distant man do the cross track corrections.

Why wouldn't SOF forces use the technique? Read the opening line: "One man stays in place, while another walks away as far as possible... ". That puts one soldier way out in front, alone.

Reminds me of the military cartoon:

(Sergeant to squad): "Now I want one man who doesn't owe me no money to walk out in front as far as you can...".

02-09-2004, 15:34	#5
CSB Quiet Professional Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 1,164	Back Azimuth Navigation Here's a drawing I made to illustrate the technique our Canadian friend is talking about: http://members.aol.com/cbjpegs/Backazi.jpg STEP ONE - One man stays in place, while another walks as far forward as possible, generally along the desired azimuth, but only as far as will allow him to look back and see the first man. STEP TWO - Instead of the near man attempting to steer the distant man onto the desired azimuth by looking forward and signaling ("left, left, right, hold it") ... STEP THREE - The distant man shoots a back azimuth to the man at the starting position. From this, the distant man determines his miss distance (offset) from his current position to a line from the starting position along the desired azimuth. STEP 4 - The distant man side steps the offset, bringing himself back into alignment with the starting man. When the man at the starting point is at the back azimuth of the man at the distant point, then the man at the starting point walks forward and joins the man at the distant point, thus traveling along the desired (forward) azimuth. Will it work? Sure. What's the advantage? It avoids the technique we have all seen of the man at the starting position yelling at a distant target man "Left, I mean your left, no no, my right, over here!, stop, now wait for me." By using the back azumuth the man at the starting point need only stand clearly visible and let the distant man do the cross track corrections. Why wouldn't SOF forces use the technique? Read the opening line: "One man stays in place, while another walks away as far as possible... ". That puts one soldier way out in front, alone. Reminds me of the military cartoon: (Sergeant to squad): "Now I want one man who doesn't owe me no money to walk out in front as far as you can...".
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