Silva 1 2 3 System© 1 2 3 4
SILVA 1 - 2 - 3 SYSTEM©
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1. Place compass on map with edge along desired line of travel. Make sure Direction of Travel arrow points
towards your destination.
2. Rotate capsule until ”N” on graduation ring point towards North on the map. Check compass housing
North/South lines are parallel to map meridians.
3. Hold compass horizontally in front of you. Turn yourself until red end of the needle points towards ”N”
on the compass graduation ring. (Red end of needle will now be aligned to red North arrow in bottom of
the compass capsule). Direction of Travel arrow now points precisely to your destination. Look up, sight on a
land-mark and walk to it. Repeat this procedure until you reach your destination.
4. When using a sighting compass with a mirror, hold compass as per picture so that you can check direction
by looking at compass housing in the mirror while sighting in correct direction of travel.
Magnetic declination and how to compensate for it
The difference, between Geographic North (North/South map meridians) and Magnetic North (towards
which red end of the compass needle points), is called declination. The amount and direction of declination is
shown on the map. For ex. 20 degs. For Easterly declination, adjust as follows:
With the declination scale inside the capsule (Field 7, Ranger 3 etc.) turn yourself
until red end of the compass needle points to 20 degs. on the ”E. decl.” scale – now
the direction of travel arrow points in the correct direction.
With compasses that have a declination adjuster, (Voyager 9020, 8010 and 8040 etc)
you simply hold the graduation ring and turn the compass capsule until the red
end of the North arrow points towards 20 degs. on the Eastern side of the declina-
tion scale. When this is done the compass will automatically adjust the bearing.
Remember though, to use the North/South lines on the graduation ring as map North
reference lines when taking the bearing on the map.
NB!
• Always check the functionality of the compass before using it in the field.
• Never expose compasses to extreme temperatures (above + 60°C or below -40°C), or to magnetic fields
such as knives, radio speakers, magnets etc. Such exposure can cause permanent damage to them.
