[CW] ENIGMA Crypto Transmission from KPH!

[David J. J. Ring, Jr.]

ENIGMA Crypto Transmission from KPH!
enigma machinr <https://www.radiomarine.org/>

https://www.radiomarine.org/
Crypto Transmission from KPH!
KPH will transmit ENIGMA encrypted messages on 22 July 2023. This will 
be the second event of its type. The first was so well received that we 
hope to make it a repeating event.

ATTENTION ALL INTERCEPT OPERATORS!
Crypto Transmission from KPH!
Background

The MRHS in cooperation with our good friends at the Cipher History 
Museum will send a coded message in 5-letter groups via the facilities 
of coast stations KPH on Saturday July 22, 2023 Pacific time. The 
message will be encrypted using the famous Enigma code machine and is an 
authentic message sent by a U-boat in the North Atlantic in 1942.

All KPH listeners are invited to try their hand at receiving and 
decrypting the message. Certificates will be awarded for proof of 
successful decode, first to decode and use of original or replica hardware.

You say your Enigma macine is a bit rusty? Perhaps it has slipped a cog? 
No problem, MRHS has you covered! Software simulations exist for the 
Enigma code machine. Click Here for an easy-to-use Enigma simulator. It 
is web-based, no download necessary.

Enigma

The Enigma was the Germans' most sophisticated coding machine for 
securely transmitting command and control messages via radio 
communications in WWII. It was considered so secure that it was used to 
encipher the most top-secret of messages.

The arrangement of Enigma's rotors and plugboard connections provided a 
unique series of letter substitutions which changed with each keystroke. 
The daily rotor order and the ring and plugboard settings to be used 
were specified in a codebook distributed monthly to all users of a network.

Crypto broadcast date, time and formats

The crypto broadcast will commence at 2000Z (1300 Pacific) on 22 July on 
all KPH CW frequencies. The broadcast will begin with a 'callup' (in 
plain text) announcing the broadcast, followed by the cipher message. 
The callup and cipher messages will be sent at 15 WPM. The cipher 
message will be sent in 5 letter groups and the message will be sent 
twice to ensure proper reception.

  The usual KPH channel marker or 'wheel' running at 20 WPM will precede 
the announcement for the crypto broadcast to give listeners a chance to 
tune to the strongest signal in their area.

The KPH CW frequencies are (in kc):

426 (after an announcement on 500)

6477.5

8642.0

12808.5

17016.8

22477.5

  Upon completion of the CW transmissions, the broadcast will be 
repeated at 2015Z (1315 PST) on all KPH RTTY frequencies. The RTTY 
transmission will be 170cps shift Baudot, 45 baud.

The KPH RTTY frequencies are (in kc):

6324.5, 8427.0 and 12585.5

Code Machine Key Settings - IMPORTANT!

  Decoding an Enigma message requires the use of two keys: a Daily Key 
(valid for particular day), and a Message Key (unique to each individual 
message sent that day).

  The Daily Key

Prior to decoding a message, the daily key must be set into your Enigma 
code machine. The daily key settings were specified in secret codebooks 
and distributed monthly. Please consult the following codebook to obtain 
the daily key setting for the GMT date in the message header plaintext 
(NOTE: not the date of the broadcast!).

Here is the software enigma decoder for the KPH Enigma transmission.
http://ciphermachinesandcryptology.com/en/enigmasim.htm

Needed instructions - scroll down to see the settings for "before 1940"
https://swling.com/blog/2022/07/decode-the-enigma-crypto-transmission-from-kph-on-saturday-july-23-2022/
Decode the Enigma: Crypto Transmission from KPH on Saturday, July 23, 
2022 | The SWLing Post

This page contains the code settings but just as importantly how the 
settings are used - scroll down on the page to see it.
https://www.ciphermachinesandcryptology.com/en/enigmaproc.htm

 From the code settings:

Date
23
Roller Position
V II III

Ring Positions
11 21 08

Plug Connections
EY DT KF MO XP HN WG ZL IV JA

Characteristic Groups
lsd nuo vcr vcx

MESSAGE FROM SANFRANCISCORADIO/KPH TO DECODE:
HQ FR FOCH 1914Z 100 BRV LTV

VCXTY JRVHA NNKMO FGKIG
OIPLM KVHVZ WDMIP XWRBX
JKDWT KGZZA IWJVN QUTJF
HPPWG KEDDQ QFEMT UKMQU
IDIGF YUAJB RPPWS IBJCV

I believe the entire message has to be entered to decode it because 
after I found the decoded initial rotor settings (see the decoding 
process) BRV has to be initially entered to decode the second tri-letter 
group of LTV, to obtain the decode of LTV which I then set my enigma 
machine to use but my first decode was garbage, so it must be that the 
entire message including what I call the "check group" which is VCXTY 
(which I did NOT include) resulted in garbage output.

73
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