[GreenKeys] Reperforator tape colors

[John Hensley]

The data protection was accomplished through encryption processes and limited equipmentcontrol areas.  Top Secret, for instance, was only carried through certain hard wired & shieldedcables between the Communications Officer's private office and the encrypting equipment.  A1MC intercom was in his suite which was used when he was ready to transmit.  This rarely evenoccurred.  99% of TS was incoming and garbled until decoded by the COMMO or duty supervisor.
The colors of the tape, message forms, etc. were work aides to remind personnel on rotating shifts what was what.  The Navy required Confidential and above to be physically protected (behind secure need-to-know access doors) until disposed of and disposition was by incinerator.  In most cases, personnel read only the header of the tape and did not even do that for tape whichwas used and then put in a burn bag.  Very few people had the time or office to read most of thestuff.  The burn bags went into whatwas called a "burn basket", a rectangular box kit shaped screen mesh cage which we mountedon the fantail and then set the paper afire.  The screen mesh insured only ash could escape.
Top Secret was reserved for the eyes of the Communications Officer and the Captain.  And onlythose two could route a TS message for other eyes.  The message board was prepared by theCOMMO and sent directly to the CO.  The CO would then check appropriate "initial" blocks whichdetermined which other officers would need to read & initial.  Those papers were then put ina special burn bag and kept 24 hours before being destroyed.  Or so was the routine where Iwas between 1965 and 1971.
John
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 12:14:29 -0500
From: w3nu at roadrunner.com
To: w5jv at hotmail.com
CC: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Reperforator tape colors


  
    
  
  
    I am not a newcomer but never knew any of this, my TTY experience
    being limited to railroad and ham uses.

    

    How was Top Secret traffic protected in this way?  Never put on
    machine readable tape?

    

    73 de W3NU

    

    

    

    On 1/8/2013 1117, John Hensley wrote:

    
    
      
      
        Most of you probably know this but for the new comers on the
        list, TTY baudot tape
        colors (at least in the Navy) were used this way:
        

        
        Yellow - Unclassified traffic
        Green - C O N F I D E N T I A L traffic
        Red - S E C R E T traffic
        

        
        Top Secret traffic on ships which was received was almost
          always printed out
        on adhesive backed white strip tape which was then stuck on
          a message blank
        for continuity.  Outgoing went through encrypting engines
          but I was never in a
        position to use TS on outgoing tape.  
        

        
        I've seen blue & dark blue tape but have no idea who
          used it or for what purpose.
        

        
        John W5JV
      
      

    
    
 		 	   		  
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