Observation Station Operator, Coast Artillery (578) Enlisted Personnel

Acts as a member of a team in a seacoast artillery observation station, performing such duties as instrument observing, tracking, spotting, reading, or recording.
Tracks moving targets through an azimuth instrument, stopping momentarily when the timing bell rings to allow the reader to read the azimuth. Reports data to plotting room. Locates with an azimuth instrument the splash of the shells as they hit the water and informs the spotting board operator by telephone of the deviation from the target.
When fire control is accomplished by gun data computers or directors, performs vertical or horizontal tracking by means of telescope on machine in the same manner as tracking with azimuth instrument or turns hand wheels matching pointers on dials to insure that smooth output of data is transmitted to gun.

Alternate nomenclatures:

  • Instrument Observer
  • Reader
  • Recorder
  • Spotter
  • Tracker