The 2nd Mate was responsible for navigation. In addition to plotting courses and tracking the ship’s position, he had to ensure that all of the charts were kept up to date.
The O’Brien’s chart room contained a Radio Direction Finder that could be used to take bearings on shore radio stations as well as a Fathometer or depth finder, but other than that the ship’s navigation equipment was not much different than that used during the age of sail.
The chart room also contained the Scott Radio, which is located on a shelf near the porthole. This radio could be used to tune in news and entertainment broadcasts and contained shielding to prevent it from putting out RF emissions that could be tracked by enemy U-Boats.
The large black drum in the center of the chart room is the ship’s gyrocompass. Gyrocompasses were not a standard feature on Liberty ships when the O’Brien was built, but she had this one installed during her wartime career.
Explore this Station's Gallery
Enter the Wheelhouse which is adjacent to the Chartroom.