Estimate Range

DEPEND ON THE LASER RANGE FINDER OF YOUR PRIMARY SIGHT TO DETERMINE THE

RANGE TO A TARGET. HOWEVER, IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE’S RANGEFINDER

OR PRIMARY SIGHT BECOMES INOPERATIVE, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ESTIMATE RANGE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND DESTROY TARGETS.”

Football-field Method.

Recognition Method.

Although the situations and conditions just discussed will also have some effect on the Recognition Method, the data on this viewgraph will generally hold true. You should be able to identify armored and wheeled vehicles from 1,500 to 2,000 meters with the naked eye. If you can see the vehicle well enough to positively identify it as a tank but cannot determine the model, it is between 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

Flash-to-Bang method.

In this method, range is determined by counting the seconds between the time that you see the flash and when you hear the sound of the gun firing. You can count the seconds by counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, and etc., with each count being one second. Since sound travels through the air at a speed of about 330 meters per second, each second you counted equals 330 meters.

Flash-to-Bang method.

To determine the range to a firing weapon, watch for the flash of the weapon when it fires and start counting seconds immediately. The number of seconds you count, multiplied by 330, will give you the approximate range from the target to your position. If you must count higher than ten seconds start over at one. The same method is used during hours of darkness.

Binocular-reticle/mil-relation method

For this method of range estimation you must know the mil measurement of the reticle in your binoculars and width, length, or height of the target, in meters, to figure range to the target.

Binocular-reticle/mil-relation method

(a) Mil Values.

(b) Known target size in meters. The average length of a threat tank is 6.7 meters and the average width is 3.4 meters.

Figuring the range.

1. Divide the known size of the target by the mil measurement from the reticle and multiply by 1000.

Example: 6.7 divided by 3 X 1000 =?; 3.4 divided by 2 X 1000 = ?.

2. Remember that after you divide the size of the target by the mil measurement you must multiply your answer by 1000 to determine the correct range, in meters, to the target.

QUIZ

1. When estimating the range using Flash-To-Bang method, what number do you multiply by to determine the range?

a. 370

b. 100

c. 330

d. 430

QUIZ

2. You observed the flash of a weapon firing and began counting. On the count of “ONE-THOUSAND-FIVE” you heard the weapon firing. What is the estimated range to the target?

a. 300 meters

b. 900 meters

c. 1500 meters

d. 1650 meters

QUIZ

3. You picked a point halfway between you and the target and determined the number of football fields was three. What is the estimated range to the target?

a. 600 meters

b. 1300 meters

c. 1200 meters

d. 1000 meters

QUIZ

4. You see a threat tank moving left to right across your front. He measures 4.0 mils in your binocular reticle. What is the range to the target?

a. 1625 meters

b. 2300 meters

c. 1675 meters

d. 2200 meters

QUIZ

5. You see a threat tank moving away from you. He measures 3.0 mils in your binocular reticle. What is the range to the target?

a. 2400 meters

b. 2600 meters

c. 2500 meters

d. 1133 meters

QUIZ

6. You determine that the number of football fields between you and the target is four. What is the estimated range to the target?

a. 200 meters

b. 300 meters

c. 400 meters

d. 500 meters

QUIZ

7. You observe the dust of a weapon firing and begin counting. On the count of “ONE-THOUSAND-SEVEN,” you hear the weapon firing. What is the estimated range to the target?

a. 2200 meters

b. 2310 meters

a. 800 meters

b. 950 meters

c. 1000 meters

a. 1600 meters

b. 1800 meters

c. 1700 meters

a. 2233 meters

b. 2500 meters

c. 2450 meters