Reg Seaman Recruit
Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 30
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:43 pm Post subject: Navy Navigation 101: Please Explain! |
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Ok, so I'm trying to figure out where on the map Kerry's PCF actually was.
Let's use an example from Kerry's Feb. 1969 Sport Report. I'm looking at the report dated: "210545Z Feb 69" (which I interpret as 21 Feb 1969 05:45 ZULU time, correct?)
Under "DELTA" it says the following:
"20 FEB 69, 1400H, WQ280747, SONG DAM DOI, WHILE SERVING AS AFTER GUNNER ABROAD PCF 94...."
WQ280747 I take to be the position of the PCF. My understanding of the navy's grid zone designation is the following:
1. Read the letters of the 100,000 M square in which the point lies. In this example "WQ" zone contains the SONG DAM DOI.
2. Locate the first VERTICAL grid line to the left of point and read the large figure labeling the line. In this example, that's "2".
3. Now break down the distance from that line into tenths. In this example "8" seems resonable to be on the SONG DAM DOI.
4. Locate the first horizontal line below the point. In this example, "7".
5. Again, then break down distance into tenths. In this example, "4" seems to be a reasonable estimate.
6. So WQ2874 would be understandable to me.
So what do the "0" and the "7" mean on WQ280747?
Here's the Defense Mapping Agency map of the SONG DAM DOI from 1972 that I'm using:
http://www.nexus.net/~911gfx/vietnam/maps/nc48-15/nc48_15c.html
Here's the spot report (go to page 11).
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/SpotReports_February1969.pdf |
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