(U) [R-390] Interesting Link Vietnam NSA released report

[mikea]

On Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 03:49:19PM -0500, DJED1 at aol.com wrote:
> I found it a fascinating read.  Apparently much of the North  Vietnamese 
> communication was encrypted CW, accounting for the large numbers of  R-390s and 
> intercept operators needed in that time period. Today it seems  strange to read 
> about all the manual effort required to encode, intercept,  decrypt and 
> disseminate the information.  But it was 40 years ago  (ouch!-seems just like 
> yesterday). I did see a mention of R-392s being used  for mobile intercept stations. 
>  
> Strange that some classified paragraphs were released, while others are  gone 
> altogether.

(U) Not so strange: not all information cools at the same rate, and
things that might reveal current (or not yet sufficiently aged) methods
and sources [SEVENTEEN WORDS REDACTED]

(U) I'm quite interested in the NV cryptosystems, myself, but I don't
expect to see anything about them this century. Anyone here got stuff
that can be shared?

(U) Lots of R-390s on the ground and in the air, lots of R-392s and
other gear on the road, and at least some RACAL 6217 gear mounted on
helos and being used to DF sources. Wouldn't surprise me if there had
been RA-17 gear in use, as well as the SP-600s, HRO-50s, Collins, and
whatnot.

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin