PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-621

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 621

AUGUST 2004
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-621 - Page 29 of 33
Y
our new lensatic
compass, NSN 6605-
01-196-6971, has a
floating dial. If the
dial’s not floating,
don’t assume it’s dam-
aged. Try lifting the
rear sight until it’s ver-
tical to the compass
base.
You see, when you
fold the compass, the
rear
sight
clamps
down on the dial and
locks it in place. That
protects it. You need to
lift the sight more than
45° for the dial to rise
up and float. And it
must float and rotate
freely for the needle to
point magnetic north.
Magnetic Compass…
I
f you’re still navigating by your
old aluminum magnetic compasses,
NSNs 6605-00-151-5337 or 6605-00-
846-7618, turn them in before you
get lost. These compasses gradual-
ly lose their illumination over time.
After 12 years you can’t read them
in the dark, and you need to turn
them in for replacements.
Turn in the old compasses as
radioactive waste in accordance
with AR 11-9, the
Army Radiation
Safety Program.
To help guide you through this
world, get the replacement com-
pass, NSN 6605-01-196-6971. It’s
aluminum and it has a radioactive
dial that lights up in the dark. It’s
graduated in degrees and mils.
Tritium makes it luminous.
PS 621
AUG 04
54
Lensatic Compass…
The compass has roughly a 12-year service
life. During that time its illumination gradually
dims to about 1/2 its original brightness. You’ll
find a code stamped inside the compass cover.
The first two digits of the code are the last two
digits of the year the com-
pass was manufactured.
When the twelve years are
up, replace the compass.
The Right
Direction
You’ll find more
tips on the use
and care of your
compass in Chapter
9 of FM 3-25.26,
Map Reading and
Land Navigation.
Code shows
year compass
was made
Lift rear
sight…
…so dial
can float
hey!
I think
this compass
is
broken!
how
can you
tell?
the dial’s not
floating.
I’m not damaged!
you guys just
need
directions.
lift my rear sight
so it’s
vertical--
you’ll see I’m
A
-OK!
get
lost,
pops!
YOUR SIGHTS
621. 54-55 (C)
7/3/04
1:09 PM
Page 1
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