Primary Fire Control Stations

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These concrete and wooden ruins are the remnants of a US Army observation and fire control post constructed on top of the defunct Battery Potter to serve as a observation point for the approaches to New York Harbor. Augmented by twin radar towers, the men stationed here monitored all ships nearing New York Harbor and acted as fire control observers for any enemy ships and planes, particularly U-Boats, operating in the area which would then be fired upon by Fort Hancock's batteries.

According post records, 12 merchant ships were fired upon with warning shots during the Second World War for failing to identify themselves properly to the Fort, along with three US Navy Minesweepers.

The stations were constructed in 1909 to serve other nearby batteries and were deactivated in the 1920s.