File: Converter M209: encryptor - decryptor
This article is intended to introduce you to the "". Converter M-209 "in other words an encryptor decryptor of the U.S. Army. This was certainly the most coveted by the German army during the 2nd World War
The "". Converter M-209 "is a mechanical, manual coding apparatus operating without electricity. This mechanical device is designed for the encryption and decryption of tactical messages. It was classified.secret defense "and should be systematically destroyed with care in case of risk of capture. A large part of the M-209 were destroyed and documentation connected therewith. A few copies exist in private collections or museums.
ITS HISTORY AND ITS USE...
M-209 was developed during the Second World War and used by the United States for tactical use. It is the Swedish inventor Boris Hagelinwhich in 1939 will develop this machine. Presented first to the US Army, she will not give full satisfaction.
Hagelin again tried his luck in 1940, with an improved machine. After a series of tests, it is adopted by the US Army as a replacement for the DSP-885 (M-94). The US Army will call this machine. M-209 ", the US Navy named" ". CSP-1500 ».
The M-209 offers many advantages: it is small, lightweight, hand-operated, makes possible the security of transmissions and the user can be trained in just a few hours.
In 1940, several machines were purchased by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. The mass production of the machine began to United States after its design has been simplified and strengthened mechanisms.
First widespread use in theoperation "Torch." in North Africa in November 1942, and then when the D Day in Normandy. The M-209 ensured the security of transmissions during the 2nd world war in Korea and it will be also used by the France during the war of Algeria.
PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURERS
About 140 000 copies have been built until the early 1960s, which is relatively little.
Two manufacturers:
1 / Smith-Corona. The machines manufactured by Smith-Corona are marked "Shadow" on the plate.
2 / Hagelin
Example of plate Hagelin
You will find a very good site to differentiate the M-209 following two manufacturers and type A and B. Be it on the plates, markings of the Signal Corps, hinges, wheels...
http://www.Duke.edu/Web/ISIS/Gessler/collections/crypto-m209-details.htm
CHARACTERISTICS
There is the M - 209 A and the M - 209 B, this latest version is similar to the "A" model and includes simplifications in the production.
The M-209 is composed:
-of a bag of transport several compartments to accommodate accessories. It should be noted that This type of bag is never dated.
-of a technical manual,
Note to registered on the cover of this manual "top secret" of this material.
There are 4 types of manuals following the updates and the type of encryptor decryptor:
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TM 11-380 |
TM 11-380 B |
TM 11-380 |
TM 11-380 |
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33 PAGES
WAR Department Technical Manual
Converter M-209
April 27, 1942
San Francisco National Park Association Website
Online version of this version:
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42 PAGES
WAR Department Technical Manual
Converter M - 209 B
20 Sep 1943
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78 PAGES
WAR Department Technical Manual
Converter M-209, M - 209 A, M - 209 B (Cipher)
17 March 1944
Paragraph on title page states "This manual supersedes TM 11-380, 27"
April 1942, and TM 11-380 B, 20 September 1942 ".
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170 PAGES
Converter M-209, M - 209 A, M - 209 B (Cipher)
May 1947 (Updated 10 April 1951)
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-of alternative bands.
-of a screwdriver.
-of a tweezer clamp.
-of claws door-message.
-of an Oiler marked "O" for "Oil can".
-from a bottle marked with an "I" for "Ink pad can." The bottle contains several inking pads.
-of a strap.
The strap allows to carry the bag and/or fix M-209 on the leg to be able to use it in full campaign or in a vehicle. The rounded on the bottom of the M-209 note to this effect to marry the shape of the leg and the two bindings to receive the strap hooks.
Here's what can be found in the manual to provide details on the size, weight...
Description of the machine M-209:
THE "TOP SECRET" CHARACTER OF THE M-209
As we have seen, the technical manual draws attention to the fact of do not leave any hands this machine. He focuses much more on what needs to happen of the machine if the GI's that uses it, think that there is a risk that the machine fell into the hands of the enemy.
Such specific recommendations are given for the destruction of the machine. Everything that can be burned, as the bag, strap, strip paper, manual, must be destroyed. The machine must suffer the fate of TNT or a grenade. All buried.
Many were destroyed which remains little models and gives this machine a certain value. Today for a "set" near or complete, depending on the State, it takes from 1 €800 to €2600 on average. This is an average, it may be more for a machine in superb condition. For example the 7 last February a "set", which the hull of the M-209 machine had an average sold a little more than 2 €400
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION
The M-209 can encrypt a plaintext or decrypt a cryptogram. A printing device to keep the result of the operation on a strip of paper.
The machine produces an encryption by polyalphabetic substitution. The period of the key is for the M-209 which has 6 wheels-keys, of 26x25x23x21x19x17 = 101 105 850. That is to say that at the end of a number of encrypted characters equivalent to this period, the encryption key is repeated. This seems to give the machine a certain cryptographic interest.
The coding, decoding made with a wheel on the side of the M-209 should be resolved according to the position that you wish to: "C" or "D".
The M-209 has:
-six-wheel visible under the "hood" of the machine. They contain a number of different letter.
Wheel 1: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Wheel 2: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVXYZ
Wheel 3: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVX
Wheel 4: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU
Wheel 5: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS
Wheel 6: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ
Each turn crank, the codeuses wheels move a letter.
-a drum with 27 sliding bars, each of which has two mobile legs that can be addressed using the screwdriver.
The mechanism is driven by a wheel located on the side:
On the M-209, imprimeuse wheel is supportive of this ring and an alphabet also regular but inverse (reciprocal alphabet):
As seen in the picture below, two rings allow to print the text entered by the user and the result of the operation of encryption or decryption.
In addition, a special device to disassociate the alphabet of the ring of selection to the reciprocal alphabet and make them then again solidarity to one another. This reciprocal alphabet is an element constituting the final encryption key.
To encrypt, therefore selected on the mobile ring the letter to encrypt (the putting in front of a fixed coordinate system). It is then do a complete turn the crank right machine. End-of-tour, the band of paper is pushed against the imprimeuse wheel and the corresponding encrypted letter is printed.
To encrypt a space on the M-209, the user reach the letter "Z".
M - 209 SIMULATOR.
Here you will find a link on an M - 209 Simulator.
http://users.Telenet.be/d.rijmenants/en/m209sim.htm
HAGELIN MACHINERY PATENTS
Here are the pages of patterns corresponding to the 2 089 603 patent:
THE M-209 ON THE THEATRE OF OPERATIONS
The photos of the M-209 in operation are relatively rare. If you do not hesitate to make us share.
Lieutenant Alex Bobuck and of braves. HQ Co 3rd Battalion, 506th PIR signal section. England before the D-day.
Message Center improvised...
In the hope that this post will have made you discover a room that no doubt played an important role in the security of transmissions in the U.S. Army during the second world war.
Source: www.fredandre.fr and technical manuals of the M-209.
This article has been full of excellent Omaha44 post. Thanks to him for approval.
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