The following diagram shows a compass and explains its various features.
1. The base plate mounting of the compass, with a ruler for
measuring scale.
2. The compass housing contains the magnetic needle and has the points of the
compass printed on a circular, rotating bezel.
3. The compass needle floats on liquid so it can rotate freely, the red end
should always point to magnetic north.
4. Orienting lines fixed within the compass housing and designed to be aligned
with the vertical grid lines on a map. Half the lines are coloured red to indicate north.
5. Orienting arrow fixed within the compass housing, aligned to north on the
housing.
6. The index line fixed within the outer edge of the compass housing as an
extension of the direction of travel arrow. It marks the bearing you set by
rotating the compass housing.
7. Magnifier for detailed map reading.
8. The direction of travel arrow shows the direction that you want to travel
along or the bearing you are taking. It is fixed parallel to the sides of the
base plate and aligned with the fixed index line on the edge of the compass
housing (number 6).
9. Compass scale displayed along the edge of the base plate so you can measure
distances on maps.
10. Luminous strip to assist navigation at night.