TABLE OF CONTENTS
Publisher's Foreword ..................9
Preface to Russian Edition ..................11
Chapter 1. Parts of the Geographic Environment
1.1. The Earth's Atmosphere ..................13
1.2. Weather and Climate ..................16
1.3. Winds ..................19
1.4. Time ..................21
1.5. Length of the Day ..................23
Chapter 2. Topographic and Special Maps
2.1. General Information on Topographic Maps ..................27
2.2. Map Gridding and Nomenclature ..................30
2.3. Numerical and Linear Scales of a Map ..................35
2.4. Geographic Coordinates on a Map ..................36
2.5. Rectangular Coordinate Grids on Topographic Maps ..................36
2.6. Depiction of Relief on Topographic Maps ..................38
2.7. The Earth's Magnetic Field. Magnetic Deviation and
Convergence of Meridians ..................41
2.8. Symbols Used on Topographic Maps ..................44
2.9.1:25,000 to 1:1,000,000 Topographic Maps ..................45
2.10. Special Maps ..................46
2.11. The Commander's Working Map ..................51
2.12. Tactical Symbols ..................54
2.13. Meteorological Elements ..................56
2.14. Assessing Terrain as an Element of the Battlefield
Environment. ..................57
2.15. Terrain Orientation and Targeting ..................70
Appendices
1. Reference Data ..................79
2. Sample Topographic and Special Maps ..................87
2.1. 1:25,000 Topographic Map ..................87
2.2. 1:50,000 Topographic Map ..................88
2.3. 1:100,000 Topographic Map ..................89
2.4. 1:200,000 Topographic Map ..................90
2.5. 1:500,000 Topographic Map ..................91
2.6. 1:1,000,000 Topographic Map ..................92
2.7. 1:10,000 City Plan ..................93
2.8. 1:25,000 City Plan ..................94
2.9. Geographic Survey Map ..................95
2.10. Aeronautical Chart ..................96
2.11. Marine Chart ..................97
2.12. 1:100,000 Terrain Variation Map
(Operationally Corrected) ..................98
2.13. 1:100,000 Geodetic Data Map ..................99
2.14. 1:25,000 River Segment Map ..................100
2.15. 1:100,000 Mountain Pass and Passage Map ..................101
2.16. 1:100,000 Water Source Map ..................102
2.17. Aerial Photograph with Coordinate Grid ..................103
2.18. Photomontage ..................104
2.19. Photographic Plan ..................105
2.20. Photomap ..................106
3. Symbols for Topographic and Special Maps
3.1. Symbols for 1:25,000-1:200,000 Topographic Maps ..................107
3.2. Symbols and Characteristics of Labeled Features on
1:200,000 Maps ..................127
3.3. Symbols for 1:500,000 and 1:1,000,000 Topographic
Maps ..................128
3.4. Symbols for Terrain Variation Maps ..................129
3.5. Symbols for Geodetic Data Maps ..................133
3.6. Symbols for River Segment Maps ..................134
3.7. Symbols for Mountain Pass and Passage Maps ..................137
3.8. Symbols for Water Source Maps ..................138
4. Abbreviations for Labels on Topographic Maps ..................141
5. Some Objectives That Can Be Achieved Using
Topographic Maps ..................154
5.1. Angles, Headings, and Their Relationship on the Map ..................154
5.2. Determination of Magnetic and Grid Azimuths ..................156
5.3. Determination of Rectangular Coordinates ..................157
5.4. Determination of Geographic Coordinates ..................159
5.5. Determination of Absolute and Relative Elevations
of Terrain Points ..................160
5.6. Construction of Visibility Charts and Determination of
Intervisibility ..................161
5.7. Determination of Invisibility Fields ..................162
5.8. Determination of Steepness of Slope ..................163
6. Some Symbols Used in Combat Documents ..................165
7. Meteorologic Symbols ..................173
8. Some Abbreviations Used in Combat Documents ..................175
9. Alphabetic Subject Index ..................179
References ..................187
FOREWORD
The present work, Russian Military Mapping, is the English-language translation of the current edition of a basic manual used in the Russian Armed Forces to introduce Russian officers to topographic and other special maps. The manual is an open publication, published in a press run of 30,000 copies, and represents a thorough update from earlier works by the same author, Lt. Gen. A.A. Psarev. When the manual first came to our attention at East View some months ago, it was immediately clear that it represented a major contribution to the literature of understanding and interpreting Russian (or Soviet) topographic maps. These maps, which barely a decade ago were basically unknown to the outside world, have now been formally declassified in large part and can be found in libraries and amongst a diverse group of users all over the world. Indeed for more than half the territory of the globe, Russian military topographic maps represent the most superior technical cartographic solution available. The Russians, it has been said, are to maps what the French are to wine.
So we were professionally quite thrilled when the Lt. Gen. Psarev's publisher, UNIINTEKh, agreed to our proposal to publish the English-language edition. UNIINTEKh proved to be an outstanding publishing partner and graciously and quickly supplied us with high-quality digital files, including various graphics, which facilitated such rapid publication. We look forward to our next project with them.
East View Cartographic's production team was headed by the indefatigable Ms. Yuliya Smirnova, whose thorough work in book design, cover art, typesetting and proofreading is a constant inspiration. The English translation was provided by Mr. Paul Gallagher, with whom we at East View are proud to continue our relationship. Special appreciation is also due to Ms. Kim Bachand, EVC's chief financial officer and guarantor of corporate stability, for her tolerance of yet another special project by her boss. And Mark Stratman's Sang Froid Press provided printing and binding services. It is always a pleasure to work with such fine professionals.
As always, we would appreciate that readers bring any mistakes, discrepancies or suggestions for improvements to our attention at corrections@cartographic.com. All correspondence will be gratefully acknowledged. Here at East View we have always been proponents of giving the greatest possible visibility to key publications, more often than not esoteric and arcane, from different comers of the world. Often we do this through efficient promotion and distribution alone, but sometimes various value-added measures are required. Perhaps no publication type fits this bill more than the series of global topographic maps produced under high levels of secrecy for decades by the Soviet government. We hope that the present volume will help illuminate this exceptional information resource, which now comprises an important part of the public domain.
Kent D. Lee
President and CEO,
East View Cartographic
A comprehensive overview of Russian military topographic maps and related publications. Russian Military Mapping is the English-language translation of the current edition of a basic manual used in the Russian armed forces to introduce Russian officers to topographic and other special maps. This book is a major contribution to the literature of understanding and interpreting Russian (or Soviet) topographic maps.
This manual contains material systematized into the following major sections: general information on the Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate, winds, and concepts of time; basic data on topographic and special maps; description of terrain types and their tactical properties, and procedures for maintaining the commander’s working maps.
The appendices contain several types of reference data, sample topographic and special maps, tables of symbols used for topographic maps, and some conventional designations and abbreviation used in combat documents.