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Old Army Compass.

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demorier

Charter Member
I've had this old field compass for ages that belonged to my old man in WW2. Australian issue from 1941. Still works good to, even better with a squirt of RP7.
 
Very nice Dormorier! It looks almost brand new. I wonder what tales it could tell and where it was used?

I see that its bezel is marked in both degrees and milradians. That makes it useful for artillery and mortar spotting as well as navigation.

Here is the current US Military lensatic compass. This one dates to 1979, but this particular model goes back to just after WW II and is still the issue compass. They have an allowable error of 3 degrees but generally do better than that. When used with a good topographic map and protractor, you can determine your location or get to the desired location quite well.
 
Amongst other things, I know my old man was on some artillery duties for a time, most of his OS service was through various south-west Pacific Islands like PNG and Borneo..later on he was stationed in various parts of northern Australia and conducted practical jungle training exercises for troops before being deployed OS.

I don't have much use for the compass, I think I might clean it up and donate it to one of our local RSL Clubs. Most clubs have some sort of display of military bits and pieces.
 
Nice compass. I am in possession of a W. & L. E. Gurley made U.S. Army artillery spotter compass from WW II. Mine is still in very good condition and works perfectly. These old compasses were designed to survive severe duty.
 
Really well made instruments are wonderful....

I also own an old Lensatic, and at one time had an M2 issued to me (Artillery, broken down in Mils vs. degrees).

Both were crafted really well, and both are decades old.
 
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