[GreenKeys] Reperforator tape colors

[John Hensley]

Hi Charles,
Toward the end of January in 1968, my ship was finishing a WESTPAC cruise and we werebeginning to leave the Southeast Asian waterways for the open Pacific.  All of a suddenthe teletype bells started going off and FLASH messages bearing the SECRET classification(always in plain language) began coming across the broadcast machines about the USS Puebloand the North Koreans.  The watch supervisor called the bridge and asked the CO to comedown to Radio Central.  Minutes later, the Captain and Ops Boss were standing over themachines reading the traffic.  The messages were focused on enemy contact and whatwas happening on the Pueblo.  Soon afterwards TOP SECRET coded messages (full pagesof 5 letter groups) began coming across and the handling classification was reduced fromFLASH to IMMEDIATE and simply dictated that the information be decoded and routed toappropriate eyes.  
The message handling classifications were:
R - RoutineP - PriorityO - ImmediateZ - Flash 
I would imagine as radio messages evolved from being delivered by signal to being downloadedfrom satellite, message handling also improved.  I'm told that on modern ships, the ships'internal computer networks provide instant access to information and network administratorswatch over and facilitate who sees what.  On commercial ships, the bridge now has CRT screensor LED screens dedicated to different visual tasks.  I would think the Navy has already adaptedto the same.  
To answer your question, in my military days I never saw message security compromised.  The messages were just adjusted so that speed of handling and what needed to be sent got the job done.
John W5JV
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 21:17:08 -0500
From: w3nu at roadrunner.com
To: w5jv at hotmail.com
CC: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Reperforator tape colors


  
    
  
  
    My remaining big concern is all that had to consume lots of time. If
    something had to be acted on speedily, was it less likely to be
    classified Top Secret?

    

    

    

    

    On 1/8/2013 2027, John Hensley wrote:

    
    
      
      
        The data protection was accomplished through encryption
        processes and limited equipment
        control areas.  Top Secret, for instance, was only carried
          through certain hard wired & shielded
        cables between the Communications Officer's private office
          and the encrypting equipment.  A
        1MC intercom was in his suite which was used when he was
          ready to transmit.  This rarely even
        occurred.  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 which
        was used and then put in a burn bag.  Very few people had
          the time or office to read most of the
        stuff.  The burn bags went into what
        
          was called a "burn basket", a rectangular box kit shaped
            screen mesh cage which we mounted
          on 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 only
          those two could route a TS message for other eyes.  The
            message board was prepared by the
          COMMO and sent directly to the CO.  The CO would then
            check appropriate "initial" blocks which
          determined which other officers would need to read &
            initial.  Those papers were then put in
          a special burn bag and kept 24 hours before being
            destroyed.  Or so was the routine where I
          was between 1965 and 1971.
          

          
          John
        
      
    
    
 		 	   		  
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