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Post by Adrian Wainer on Aug 15, 2008 18:49:13 GMT -5
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Post by volkerboehme on Aug 17, 2008 2:06:22 GMT -5
Hi,
yes, the data are easily available now. If you look at wikipedia, you can find a lot of details there, including the wiring etc. Progams to simulate an Enigma cypher machine are available there, too, if you look at the external links.
However, my suggestion was not really meant to be taken seriously, sorry if you got this wrong.
I do believe that it would be possible to code an Enigma as a FS gauge, but I also believe that it would be quite useless. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that gauges can read external text files or transmit them to other multiplayers. That would mean that you have to set up the machine, type every single letter into the machine and note the result on a piece of paper. If it is garbled, check the settings and start again all over.
Apart from that, I doubt that enigmas were ever used aboard airplanes. The process is just to slow. Enigma is useful for major command centers, regimental headquarters and above, ships and so on.
However, if you want to use an Enigma, you can run a Enigma simulator as a separate programm running outside of Flight Simulator and switch between programs. And nothing in FS will keep you from sending or recieving a coded e-mail while flying.
Best regards,
Volker
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Post by Adrian Wainer on Aug 17, 2008 5:13:38 GMT -5
Hi Volker, I knew at the time I first read your posting that it was said half in jest, but at the same time your post reminded me that there is a lot of interest in the Enigma codeing machine, so that's why I have put a dedicated post to facilitate that. Also as for your point about it not being possible to use an Enigma within FS2004, well I personally doubt I would be interested to do so anyway and you know a lot more about the internal structure of FS2004 than me and you say and I have no reason to doubt you, that apparently one couldn't even if one tried. Really, I have never researched up on how the messages were actually transmitted, I presume it was just regular un-coded morse and that the issue with enigma is the complexity of the coding itself not the transmission medium, although I could be completely wrong on that. If one can use morse to send enigma and the enigma machine produces a copy of the coded message that the sender can see, one may be able to use the UltraMorse programme to send and receive Enigma messages during FS2004 as the UltraMorse programme appears to be able to run concurrently with FS2004 and appears to have an IP address based communications facility. I have never heard of enigma being used aboard aircraft, I know the Kriegsmarine [ German Navy ] during WW2 did use a less complex version of Enigma, so presumably these issues would be of particular interest to U-boat simmers. The Focke Wolf condors that were delegated to assist the Wolf Packs, might have had an automatic coding machine aboard though what that was, if they did have such a device I do not know, whilst the Kriegsmarine did have some aircraft of its own, the Maritime recon Condors were Luftwaffe, so presumably if they were transmitting coded signals, they would have made such signal traffic back to a luftwaffe ground station rather than direct to the U-boats, but that's only my best guess.
Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer
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Post by Adrian Wainer on Aug 17, 2008 8:18:59 GMT -5
Hi here is an Enigma simulator, it downloaded okay to my Windows Vista 64 and appears to be Working okay though I do not understand how to use the real machine, so it is rather difficult therefore to estimate if the Sim is fully functional. users.telenet.be/d.rijmenants/en/enigmasim.htmvarious cryptography machines in the following link, NB My Windows Vista 64 rejected any of the one's I tried as incompatible, presumably they have 16 bit code in them, but should not be a problem if you are using 32 bit XP and possibly 32 bit Vista. cryptocellar.org/simula/Best and Warm Regards Adrian Wainer |
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Post by volkerboehme on Aug 17, 2008 10:58:48 GMT -5
Hi Adrian,
this was one of the simulators that I thought about.
The point about coding is that the enemy might intercept the message, but wouldn't be able to use it. That is particularly true about radio transmissions. Germany had been using the very same Morse code as the Britain, and anyone in range could listen in when messages were transmitted.
To use an Enigma, you'd have to set up the machine correctly - the right set of rotors, with a correct ring position, wiring and so on, including an 'initial position' of the rings ('ABC' showing up on the display, for example). All of this would be laid out in the code book for the given day. Some settings would change every day, some only every other day (bad idea).
The message would be coded with a different 'initial position', ('DEF', for example), random choice by the sender. The sender would also code his special 'initial position' with the day's standard ('ABC'). That might be coded into 'GHI', for example.
Then contact would be established between sender and reciever, and the coded initial position of the message would be transmitted along with the coded text.
Keep in mind that the same Enigma setting turns code into clear text and clear text into code.
The reciever would set the Enigma to the days setting, including initial position 'ABC' He'd then type ''GHI' which he recieved in the message, and recieve 'DEF' as result. Then he'd set the initial position to 'DEF' and start decoding the text body of the message.
There's a lot of literature about the Enigma. the book 'Enigma' by Robert Harris is actually quite good regarding the facts, and is more entertaining to read than many of the more scientific books.
As far as The FW-200 Condor is concerned, I don't think that they were typically morsing to the U-boats. Air force / Navy cooperation wasn't that good anyway. I would assume that the airplane would contact the airbase or another airforce radio station, and they would hand it over to some navy authority, which would contact the subs themselves.
The navy wasn't too happy with the Air Force data anyway. I think I read about some sub commander who claimed that he preferred to take bearings of Luftwaffe radio chatter during an air raid rather than rely on the positions they gave.
Best regards,
volker
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