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Lensatic Compass Uses and Benefits
The lensatic compass is suitable for military units in reconnoitering, determining direction, orienting maps, fire control and other uses where magnetic azimuths are required. The military lensatic compass is more complex and more accurate of all the other types of compasses. Most people assume that lensatic compass is the "proper" term for all hand-held compasses, but that it not the case. While speed is important in many tactical situations, a lensatic compass is not necessarily designed for speed. The lensatic compass is most commonly used in the military and can be employed in a variety of ways for either day or night navigation. It is is the most common and simplest instrument for measuring direction.
If you've bought one of these fine instruments, you finally have a tool more suitable for map use. Maps are drawn relative to true north, and compasses give you bearing relative to magnetic north. When properly oriented, map features should line up with their respective land features. However, it should be noted that when using the protractor on a map, only grid azimuths are obtained. If you have a topographic map of your area, the declination can easily be determined by direct measurement.
Magnetic azimuths can be sighted through the lens and sighting wire, and read accurately to within 2 degrees. Magnetic azimuths are determined with the use of magnetic instruments, such as lensatic and M2 compasses. Magnetic North is, of course, what makes your compass work. Magnetic north varies by location and time. The front sight has a magnifier to simultaneously view the magnetic heading when taking a sight. However, nonmagnetic metals and alloys do not affect compass readings.
Azimuths can be plotted on a map using a protractor. To read the compass to cheek, you match the compass dial in the magnifying lens to the desired azimuth (angle). A protractor can be used to determine azimuths when a compass is not available. However, a compass has to be checked periodically on a known line of direction, such as a surveyed azimuth using a declination station.
There are several different types of hand held compasses that are designed for specific uses, and a lensatic compass is only one of them. My only criticism of the lensatic compass is the inclusion on its card of the "mil" scale, an engineering and surveying scale that is used on military compasses to align artillery. Compasses are delicate instruments and should be cared for accordingly.
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