Military knots turn a plain length of rope into gear a soldier needs in the field, often with no hardware at all. Most of the knots here come from the Army Ranger Handbook and are used by Army Rangers and Sappers. The Swiss Seat wraps around the hips and legs to form an improvised rappel harness, letting a soldier rig for a rappel when no manufactured harness is available. To span a gap, a Round Turn & Two Half Hitches anchors and holds the tension of a one-rope bridge between two trees. A Water Knot joins the ends of flat webbing into a sling strong enough to bear weight, while a Munter Hitch clipped into a single carabiner gives the friction to rappel, backed up by a Prusik that grips the rope if a hand slips. The top military knots listed below cover the field skills soldiers rely on when hardware is limited. Because these essential military knots are often tied under stress and in the dark, soldiers drill them until they can tie each one by feel.
Bowline
Relatively secure fixed loop at the end of a rope.
Capuchin
Provide weight to a rope end for throwing over distance.
Clove Hitch
Secure a rope to a post or spar.
Clove Hitch (Two Loop)
Attach a rope to a carabiner without access to ends.
Clove Hitch on a Bight
Attach a rope to a post without access to ends.
Figure Eight Bend
Securely joins two ropes, often used in climbing and rescue operations.
Figure Eight Follow Through
Secure loop knot used to tie a rope to a harness or anchor.
Figure Eight Loop
Secure, fixed loop at the end of a rope.
Lanyard Hitch
Temporarily attach cord to a post, ring, whistle or name tag.
Munter Hitch
Friction hitch for controlled descent or belaying in climbing and rescue.
Overhand Knot
Simple, single strand stopper knot.
Prusik
Bi-directional friction hitch used for ascending or descending on a rope.
Prusik (End-line)
Movable friction hitch that attaches a cord to another rope.
Round Turn & Two Half Hitches
Secure knot for tying a rope to a post or ring.
Slip Figure Eight
Adjustable bight in the middle of a rope.
Snap Bowline
Quick to tie, Relatively secure fixed loop.
Square Knot
Simple binding knot for securing objects, not suitable for joining two ropes.
Swiss Seat
Basic rappel harness fashioned using rope or webbing.
Triple Bowline
Form three fixed loops in the middle of a rope.
Triple Roll
Simple bulky stopper knot
Water Knot
Join two ends of webbing.
Warning
