What is referred to as Back Azimuth?

Back azimuth refers to the direction that is precisely opposite to a given azimuth. In navigation and land navigation training, an azimuth is typically represented in degrees and indicates the direction from one point to another based on a compass bearing. To compute the back azimuth, one simply adds 180 degrees to the original azimuth if it is less than 180 degrees, or subtracts 180 degrees from it if it is 180 degrees or more. This calculation returns the direction you would face if you were to turn around and retrace your steps.

For example, if an azimuth is designated as 45 degrees, the back azimuth would be 225 degrees; conversely, if the azimuth were 200 degrees, the back azimuth would be 20 degrees. Understanding back azimuth is vital for soldiers in the field when they need to navigate back to a previous location or communicate positional information accurately.