Lensatic Compass (WWII era) Sunday July 10th, 2016 admin Tool, World War II 6,461 views The Lensatic Compass, the most common military instrument for measuring direction, was first during World War II, an evolution of the pre-war Compass, Prismatic M-1938. Stock Number Reference: Compass, Lensatic Stock Number Acquired. wwiicompasstool_carrier