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Code and ciphers: Julius Caesar, the Enigma and the internet

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150<br />

chapter 10<br />

comparing <strong>the</strong> two texts. The best way for <strong>the</strong> operators to be told <strong>the</strong> kick<br />

<strong>and</strong> overlap patterns of <strong>the</strong> wheels is to provide <strong>the</strong>m with a ‘map’<br />

showing <strong>the</strong> position of <strong>the</strong> 2 lugs on each of <strong>the</strong> 27 bars of <strong>the</strong> cage. The<br />

‘map’ could ei<strong>the</strong>r indicate <strong>the</strong> position of every lug on every bar, which<br />

would require eight columns – six for <strong>the</strong> wheels <strong>and</strong> two for <strong>the</strong> neutral<br />

positions; or it could show only <strong>the</strong> six wheel columns <strong>and</strong>, when a bar<br />

had only 1 lug shown, leave <strong>the</strong> operator to position <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r lug in one<br />

of <strong>the</strong> neutral positions. The second method is used in <strong>the</strong> following<br />

Example 10.5<br />

The ‘good’ unoverlapped cage (9, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1) is modified to an overlapped<br />

cage (11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1) where <strong>the</strong> first four wheels each have an overlap of 2<br />

with <strong>the</strong> wheel to <strong>the</strong>ir right <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifth wheel has an overlap of 1 with<br />

<strong>the</strong> sixth wheel. Draw up a suitable drum cage map for <strong>the</strong> cipher operators.<br />

Does <strong>the</strong> overlapped cage generate all 26 possible key values (mod<br />

26)?<br />

Solution<br />

See Table 10.6.<br />

Examination of <strong>the</strong> set of 64 key values generated by this cage shows<br />

that 5 key values 2, 4, 13, 20 <strong>and</strong> 25 cannot occur whereas <strong>the</strong> key value 17<br />

occurs six times. It is not <strong>the</strong>refore a particularly satisfactory cage despite<br />

posing difficulties for a cryptanalyst because of <strong>the</strong> overlapping.<br />

Problem 10.3<br />

Find which pin combinations in <strong>the</strong> overlapped cage above produce <strong>the</strong><br />

key value 17.<br />

Solving <strong>the</strong> Hagelin from cipher texts only<br />

Solving a Hagelin cipher message ‘from scratch’ requires a great deal of<br />

tedious work <strong>and</strong> I shall only give an indication of how <strong>the</strong> cryptanalyst<br />

would probably go about it. Detailed examples of <strong>the</strong> solution from<br />

cipher messages have been published <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> interested reader should<br />

consult [10.4] or [10.5].<br />

When Hagelin messages are first intercepted <strong>the</strong> cryptanalyst will<br />

have no knowledge of <strong>the</strong> cage or pin settings. Initially he may not even<br />

know that it is a Hagelin that is being used. If <strong>the</strong> cipher operators don’t<br />

make mistakes <strong>the</strong> cryptanalyst is in for a lot of hard work. To have any<br />

chance of success he will need

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