Navigator badge
Scout proficiency badge

Navigator

Navigate by land, air or sea: read maps and charts, use a compass, work out bearings and drift, and act as navigator on a journey.

  • Pursuit
  • Syllabus page 27

What you need to do

To gain the badge you must pass all the requirements in one of the following alternatives:

Alternative A — on land

  1. Using 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale Ordnance Survey maps and a 1:10,000 scale orienteering map with examples set by the examiner:

    1. Show that you understand the meaning of scale, National Grid Reference and true, grid and magnetic north and can recognize conventional map signs.
    2. Interpret contour lines in terms of shape and steepness of terrain and know the local names and meanings of topographical features such as col, ridge, spur, and so on.
    3. Show how to set the map with and without a compass. Be able to use and to give six figure grid references and demonstrate the use of a Romer measure to improve accuracy.
    4. Show how to measure distance on the map and how to estimate timing for a particular route.
    5. Show how to find north without the aid of a compass, by day or night.
  2. Know how the national system of road numbering works and be familiar with the traffic signs and signals as illustrated in the Highway Code.
  3. Accompany a motorist or motorcyclist as a passenger and act successfully as a navigator for a total journey of at least 160 kilometers (100 miles). For a specified section of the journey, covering a distance of 80 kilometers (50 miles), prepare and use an A.A. or R.A.C. type trip route map. The journey should also include navigating with no previous preparation of the route.

  4. Complete accurately a compass route of at least two kilometers (one mile) as defined on a map supplied by the examiner. During the exercise show that you can:

    1. Convert grid bearings to magnetic bearings and vice versa.
    2. Use back bearings to check your route.
    3. Pinpoint your position using three cross-bearings.
  5. Take part in two properly organised orienteering events and show an improvement in your performance. Demonstrate methods of route selection including aiming off and the four right angles and step counting techniques.

Alternative B — in the air

  1. Given a series of three headings and corresponding tracks, work out in each case the type and the amount of drift in degrees and illustrate each case by a simple diagram.
  2. Demonstrate with a compass how an aircraft can be turned on to three successive compass headings.

  3. Either: draw on a topographical air map a track for an imaginary flight of not less than 80 kilometers (50 miles) and point out the landmarks which would show up on both sides of the track in clear visibility at an altitude of about 600 meters (2,000 feet).

    • Or: identify on a topographical air map landmarks seen during a flight of about half an hour's duration in clear sky weather.
  4. Illustrate by means of a simple diagram how a fix can be obtained from two position lines. Describe briefly two ways in which bearings can be obtained in an aircraft, thus enabling position lines to be drawn on a chart.
  5. Given the true, magnetic and compass headings, work out the variation and deviation in each case.
  6. Illustrate by simple diagram latitude and longitude.

  7. Draw on a topographical map the track between any two places not less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) apart and measure the exact distance; given the aircraft's air speed as 130 km/h (80 mph), work out the time of flight from overhead starting point to overhead destination in each of the following conditions:

    1. With no wind at all.
    2. With a head wind of 30 km/h (20 mph).
    3. With a tail wind of 50 km/h (30 mph).

Alternative C — at sea

  1. Have a good working knowledge of charts, including the projection, datum and symbols used and the tidal information given.
    1. Read a mariner's compass marked in points and degrees and have a knowledge of compasses generally, including variation and deviation.
    2. Be able to apply variation and deviation to a compass course to obtain a true reading. Give a true reading to obtain a compass course.
    3. Understand how compass error can be found from a transit bearing.
    1. Understand the theory of how a position may be found from any two position lines.
    2. Plot a position from any three cross bearings. Understand what a ‘cocked hat’ means and how to use it safely.
    3. Plot a position using the ‘running fix’ method.
    4. Plot a position using a combination of compass bearing and any one or more of the following: radio direction beacons, vertical sextant angles, horizontal sextant angles, line of soundings, transits.
  4. Have a working knowledge of tide and tidal stream atlases.
  5. Understand the use of the marine log to obtain distance run and speed.
  6. Understand the buoyage system for United Kingdom coastal waters and other methods of marking dangers and channels.

  7. Undertake a coastal voyage of at least six hours acting as navigator. A log must be kept showing the courses steered, distance run, navigation marks passed and weather experienced. During the voyage:

    1. Plot the estimated position every hour by keeping the dead reckoning.
    2. Whenever appropriate, and not less than once per hour, plot an observed position by bearings or other means of obtaining a fix.

    The voyage, which need not have a definite destination, should be planned on the chart beforehand using tidal streams to the best advantage and giving hourly courses to steer for an assumed speed.