Practical guide on orientation without a map

!NOTE!

This work is not mine, I have translated it as good as I can, because I think it can be useful to both civilians, people in a specific scenario, or security experts doing engagements that involve specific scenarios. The entirety of the information comes from Russian military sources and guides.

BEGINNING:

There are four types of local objects used to determine the cardinal directions: natural objects, man-made objects, celestial bodies, and improvised tools.

Natural Objects

These include solitary trees, anthills, mosses, stumps, and shrubs. It is generally believed that solitary trees have longer and denser branches on the southern side; anthills are located on the southern side of trees, stumps, and shrubs; the southern slope of anthills is gentle, while the northern one is steep; berries and fruits ripen earlier (turn red or yellow) on the southern side. However, when you are "on the ground," it is very difficult to determine which side of the anthill has the slope or where there is more moss or foliage. THEREFORE, FOR MILITARY PURPOSES, ORIENTATION BY NATURAL OBJECTS IS NOT CONSIDERED.

Man-Made Objects

These include religious buildings and numbered forest posts. The doors of Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques usually face north; shrines (pagan temples with idols), pagodas, and Buddhist monasteries have facades facing south. The altars of Orthodox churches, chapels, and Lutheran kirks face east, while the main entrances are located on the western side; the altars of Catholic churches face west; the elevated end of the lower crossbar of the cross on Christian church domes points north, while the lowered end points south. In large forest areas, clearings are usuall cut along the north-south and east-west lines.

Celestial Bodies

These include the Sun, Moon, and stars. The Sun rises in the east, moves through the south, and sets in the west. Depending on the time of year, sunrise and sunset times vary.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the direction to the North Star always corresponds to the direction north. In the Southern Hemisphere, the North Star is not visible. Therefore, the Southern Cross is used to determine the direction to the south.

The accuracy of determining direction by the North Star (in the Northern Hemisphere) or the Southern Cross (in the Southern Hemisphere) is 2-3°.

To determine the cardinal directions by the Moon, you need to know how the Moon's disk is formed. Knowledge of the lunar phases helps not only with orientation but also with planning operations, taking into account available night vision devices (NVDs), which are more effective during the full moon.

Waning (on the left side) - indicates the phase where the Moon is decreasing in visibility (left).

Waxing (on the right side) - indicates the phase where the Moon is increasing in visibility (right)

Moon Phases:

Improvised Tools

A watch, homemade, or standard compass can also be used for orientation. To orient by the Sun and a watch, turn the watch so that the hour hand points toward the Sun; the angle between the hour hand and the direction to the 1 o'clock mark should be divided in half. The bisector of this angle will point approximately south. This method applies to orientation both before and after 1 p.m.

If no watch or compass is available, they can be improvised from available materials. One method involves using a shadow. A stick up to 1 meter long is stuck into the ground at an angle corresponding to the latitude of the location. An improvised plumb line (e.g., a stone) is tied to the stick. The farthest point of the shadow is marked on the ground. Using the shadow's endpoint on the ground directly under the plumb line as the center, draw a semicircle that intersects the end of the shadow. After some time, mark the farthest point of the shadow again (point B). The two points are connected to form the east-west line, and the first point indicates west. The north-south direction corresponds to the perpendicular to this line. The tilt of the stick does not affect accuracy. This method can be used on slopes and in northern latitudes.

Sources:

Куприн А.М. С картой и компасом: практическое пособие по военной топографии. – М.: ДОСААФ, 1981

And other places.