CHAPTER 5
LAND NAVIGATION
4. Intelligence reports
Terrain is another name for a piece of ground. For
our purposes, it is a region or territory viewed for its
5. Patrolling
suitability as a battleground. How you make use of the
6. Friendly natives, undercover agents, or captured
terrain-its texture, even its color at different times of the
enemy prisoners
day-affects everything you or the enemy do or can do.
Both you and the enemy have the terrain of the
battlefield in common. More often than not, victory goes
COMPONENTS OF TERRAIN
to whoever understands and uses the terrain best.
Usually, the terrain dictates troop movements and
In military terminology, terrain is simply the ground
formations, positions to be defended, and locations of
over which we intend or propose to. fight. To a military
weapons. You cannot memorize definite rules to cover
man, the word terrain is an all-inclusive term, referring
every situation. However, there are certain principles
not only to the ground itself, but to all other conditions
discussed in this chapter that, when applied intelligently,
that influence the ability of the combatant to carry out
will result in sound solutions or decisions. Knowledge
an assigned mission. For the sake of simplicity, terrain
of these principles is not enough to give you the
has two major aspects. The first is weather, climate, and
advantage. You must know the terrain intimately to use
season; the second is topography.
it properly. Other than making a personal
reconnaissance of the terrain, you must be thoroughly
WEATHER CLIMATE, AND SEASON
familiar with the use of commercially prepared maps as
well as maps drawn hastily in the field. You must also
WEATHER is the day-to-day changes in atmos-
interpret signs and symbols used on maps, prepare field
pheric conditions. CLIMATE is the average weather
sketches and overlays, and use the lensatic compass
over an extended period of time. SEASONS are
properly.
characterized by particular conditions of weather, such
as summer and winter in the United States or the rainy
and dry seasons in Southeast Asia. Of these three
TERRAIN APPRECIATION
elements, weather is the most important consideration
Terrain appreciation is the analysis of an area to
from a tactical viewpoint. For long-range planning or in
determine the effect that the terrain features have on
the absence of weather information, climatological and
probable military operations by either of the opposing
seasonal data may be used to estimate weather
forces. Terrain can be viewed with either offensive or
conditions.
defensive intentions in mind. However, regardless of the
type of mission, each Seabee leader must evaluate the
The Elements of Weather
terrain for both offense and defense. Then the Seabee
leader can anticipate the enemy's analysis of the
Weather consists of several atmospheric elements,
situation as well as his own. Information on the terrain
each affecting tactics in its own way. These elements are
may be acquired through various sources, but a physical
as follows:
reconnaissance of the area is the most important and
reliable method of obtaining accurate information.
1. TEMPERATURE. The degree of hotness or
When a physical reconnaissance is not possible or
coldness in a geographic area.
additional information is desired, it may be provided by
2. HUMIDITY. The percentage of water vapor in
one or more of the following sources:
the air.
1. Aerial reconnaissance and photographs
3. VISIBILITY. The ability to see both
2. Maps of the area
horizontally and vertically. It is influenced by fog, haze,
heat refraction, clouds, or precipitation.
3. Terrain models provided by higher authority
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