What are the five basic colors on a military map?

The five basic colors on a military map are blue, green, brown, black, and red. Each of these colors serves a specific purpose in helping map readers understand the terrain and features within an area.

Blue typically represents water features such as lakes, rivers, and streams, making it easy to identify bodies of water on a map. Green is used to denote vegetation, such as forests, fields, or other areas covered with plant life, allowing map users to recognize terrain that may be difficult to traverse. Brown is the color used for contour lines and elevation, indicating changes in terrain height and helping with the visualization of hills and valleys. Black represents man-made structures and roads, helping users to identify urban areas and infrastructure that may affect navigation and movement. Lastly, red is occasionally used for highlighting important features or boundaries but is less commonly used than the other colors.

The selections involving yellow and grey do not accurately represent the standardized color scheme applied to military maps, and colors like purple and orange are not recognized in the context of military mapping. Thus, the recognition of blue, green, brown, black, and red as the fundamental colors is aligned with military mapping conventions.