Howard Sun Compass MK2, unknown maker, 1980-2000.

Solar compasses use shadows from the sun to help calculate the direction of travel. Dating back to its invention in 1836, sun compasses were often used by troops in the Second World War in desert combat. As sun compasses are not susceptible to interference from iron bearing metals like magnetic compasses are they were still being used during the early stages of the First Gulf War to help forces navigate across the largely featureless desert.