NSA-064 

SUBJECT: OTTICO MECCANICA ITALIANA CRIP'l'OGRAPH-WIRING 

PREPARED BY: Herbert Avram 

D1stribution: 

JISA-o642 

82 

J.8 

34 

35 

Informal No. J..6 

17 June 1954 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 05-20-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 

CONFIDENTIAL 
.. DlllL1111 

OTTICO MECCANICA ITALIANA ''CRIPmGRAPH" 

1. The "Criptograph" is an Enigma-type ma.chine with a cipher maze 

consisting of end plate, 5 rotors, 1 stator and a reflector. 

2. Although the model under consideration is provided with rotors 

which a.re cammed for simple motion, (the rotor contacting the end pl.ate 

moving one position for each keyed letter; all other rotors one position 

for each complete revolution of the preceding rotor), it is understood 

that the manufacturer may construct rotors with multiple cams ("notches"). 

3. A feature of the "Criptograph," both physically and cryptographically, 

is that each of the 5 rotors is made up of 2 cores, - each core being a completely wired unit. The cores may be locked together at any of 26 positions 

with reference to each other; the resulting double core may be fixed within 

the rotor ring in any of 26 positions with reference to the.ring. 

4. The following definition and/or descriptions are applicable: 

5. Rotor: A complete wheel which rotates when the machine is keyed. 

It includes two wired cores fixed together within an outer ring. 

6. Core: Wired wheel with flat contacts on one face and plunger 

contacts on the opposite face. Two cores are Joined in each rotor. Since 

the longitudinal a.xis of the maze (this model) runs from f'ront to rear of 

machine, it will be convenient to refer to the cores of each rotor as 

''Front Core" and "Rear Core". Front cores are numbered with odd figures. 

Rear cores are numbered with even figures. Front cores cannot be interchanged with the rear cores. 

This model has been provided with 8 front cores and 8 .rear cores. 

Specific cores will be referred to as: 

Fl, F3, F5, F7, F9, Fll, Fl31 Fl5 

R2, R4, R6, R8, RlO, Rl2, Rl4, RJ.6 

Any front core may be combined with a:ny rear core to make a rotor. 

-1-

CONFIDENTIAL 
7. !tie follolriDg pa.rbiaJJ1' ldnc\ alpbabetic seqwmce is ued on tile 

core face• to mE"k wirillg tem1Dal po1Dta. 

A~MIWJKXYZUVBBQPOBLBOPBDCB 

!ads sequence rmas cloclar1ae arcnma. each face ot a core; tba.t ia, a atra.ight 

tbrougb Wize, llOV8C1 sw:ceasiva~ througb the 26 poait1aaa vould pnera.te reverse mixed alphabets at its opposite pointa:-

~ relat1cmsb1p 1a, at course, recipl'oc&1.. A. white c1ot is -.rked OD outer 

circumference of each core at letter "A" aa refU'eDCe point far aet1i111g 1 t 

w1th111. riDg ot rotor. 

8. ~: ~ housillg ot tbe cores, cOD8tructe4 so as to permit each 

core to be aet at utl' ot 216 poa1t1cms 11bich are :lDlicatea "bJ' d1pta trca ;1 

to 26 8.l'0'2ll4 ou.ter c1rc1mltereDce ot r1Dg. 1lhm the rotor is 1D. operat1Dg 

positiem the number eequem:e ruu cloclariae aroun4 circumrenmce b'GI operator:"• 

v1npo1Dt. SiDce tbe 1'0tar :rotates comrtercloclm1se tba llDlm'81 sequence is 

brought to t11e w1Ddov benclllm'Jr. m normJ. eraar. 

9. C•: Device OD rillg ot each rotor equival.mt 1D function to tbe 

"notch" ol"'in. Bnigaa rotor. It 1a att:lxed to tbe r1Dg at reference point tdl, but ettecta a turnover OD ~unior rotor wbm. • OD senior rotor appears 

at Vinclov benchmark. 

10. Stato.: 9Ja stator ccmsists ot a ring ccmta1n1ng om-core. !llOugh 

ntm:.rotat:l.iii 1d1eD tbe -.cbille is keJed, the stator 1• settable to 11117 ot tl:le 

26 poa:ltiODll OD tbe riDI• - - - lD tbe .0&1el UDller ccm1114en.t10D, tbe stator 1• ccmatrw:t.4 ao tbit tbe 

c6re ~-be acrevect illto tbe ring 1D but tlft> poaiticmll: "A." core to-"';6" 

r1Dg am1. "A." core to "J9" ring. Die latter relative posit~ WU fOUDd 1D 

tbi• ilDclel as ae11vere4. 

u. 81.Dce tbe J.etterillg cm. tbe tzront face ot tbe core ot tbe stator 

cazmot be obsenecl Witbaut 1'8IDVSDg con frm ring, it 1l'ill be conireident 

to note tbat vith "A" core to "19" ring tbe foJ.J.anDg ~ face ot core 

to ring relaticmah1p lloJAa: 

BiDg 19 Z) 21 22 23 24 25 26 ('1 j2 ;3 S'4 ;5 

PrcmthceA ~ K I V J JC J: 7 Z U V B 

tf6 r;r ~ r/IJ IC' ll J2 13 14 15 J.6 17 18 

B Q P 0 B L B G P B D C B 

12. Betlactor: 918 re1'lactor, vbicb ia mm-rota.tSDg but settable, 

1• aiDgl.e faced wk1ng ccmta.ct With rellZ' face ot stator. 

-2-

eONFIDENTIAL 
!en1Dal points at wire• are pairs at point• on it• face. !be apec1t1c 

reflector at haD4 1• Yin4 in acc01'dazlce v1tb tbe tollaviDg table wb.icb. 1• to 

be read. "ftll't1call1" in pair• and :reten to reterem:e point• cm rmg at ref'Jactor: 

Iz;nit fll fl2 ;3 IA Sis "6 str "8 "9 JI 11 

OUtput 18 l9 12 22 15 ll 24 J6 13 17 -

12 13 14 15 .16 17 18 l9 • 21 

-3 "9 a6 ff5 tf8 :a; {11 • 21 • 

22 23 24 25 26 

~ 25 ;r 23 14-

13· Ba4 Platea Die a. plate 1• a1Dgle faced 11114 t:lzed, wk1ng contact 

with tbe front face of tbe firat rotor. lt• contact poill'ta a:re JB'l"lre4 11'1 th 

tlle aam part~-m1xed alphabet aeqwmce, clocklliae, 11'1th "C" tm4 at the 

12 0 'clock poait1m1 

A~KIWJKXYZUVSBQPO•LHG~BDCB 

14. Die priD.t 1d:leel 1a aJ.ao conatructe4 in thia aequance. :ID4 plate 

DJbaud/print Ybael v1r111g :la a1;ra.:lgbt, vith each lette:r goizlg to 

i~ comiter,pa.ri; at the te1'll:1uJ.. points. 

15· It ia Jmam tbat au eD4 plate v1recl in DOl'mJ. alpba'bet:lc aeqaence 

ia 111. mclatence. 

16. Wi#!tJ: ~ avoid ccmtua10D, ( thoup1 the appoaite eiaa."liaj'-'bit aezw4), WiriD& 41aFiii Will replace tbe aphabetic aequence -.rbcl u cciltact paints 

i:iD the cores 'b7 the nmmJ. alplaa'bet wbich 11'111 be cona14ere4 to run· cloclariae 

a.romu1 front face at core 8114. countercloclariae &l"OUll4 rear face at coze. In. 

W• cue, a straight thmugh Wire, mve4 aucceaai"N~ cloclariae tbrougb tbe 

26 poa1t1ona on tbe trmt tace, wauJ4 pmra.te tbe :aonal a.ll>habet at it• 

apposite ea4a. 

17 • 9Je CODVeZ'BiOD able vh.1ch fOllava 11:1.ght be :be]IJtul. !'he m.rJre4 

&JPu=t.'bet• are in J.anr cue tne wbile tbe nona1 all'!labet a, a'l'b1-tnrll1' uallcl 

for v1r1ng 41.agrama, are in c&11ital letters: 

-3-
:rront :race 

Rear :race 

ABCDIJ'OBIJKLMBOPQBSTUVVXYZ a!m1rf kfizuvrrqlon1hltef cb l l l e t l h l l l q ! l. ! l ! J 1 l1 l.l 

ABCDBJ'OBIJKLKBOPQRSTUVVXYZ 

18. Wir111g 41agrau wlll UM tbe •)'Stea ot presentation 1111erein 

tend.Dal. points ot wire• am w1n l.ellgth .. 'be 4etem1md trcn tbe 

poaitiaD. ot lilm lettera: 

Bear 

:race 

Woul.cl be A B C D@Pront l'ace 

Imllcatecl "b7 B@n C A Bear J'ace 

19. 918 B '• have been circled tor 1l.l.utrat1on. Die diagram 1JJ41catea 

that B on :h'ont face see• to B on rem" face (11h1ch appesra :In diagram over 

tbe other B). 

It 1n tarn :ID41catea :that B on :rear face goes to A on front face (wllich 

appea.ra 1n d1agra. umer tbe otll8r B) • 

Wire 1mlgt;b 111 muured lillear~ • 918 wire lmlgth f1'0lll B flron'b .. lbo:UBrnar 

1• 2. 

J'ront CON& - Vir11y5 

n ABCDBJ'OBIJKLMBOPQBSTUVVXYZ 

QUOBVGYXLBIKZBJSPKBPTBAVCD 

~ ABCDBJ'GBIJXLMBOPQRSTUVWXYZ 

SJ'JBITODCABKULBVHGBXVYMPQZ 

~ ABCDBPGHIJKLMBOPQRSTUVWXYZ 

BHILSXYZMJCRXVQUPBPDAGOBVT 

"ABCDBPOBIJKLKBOPQBSTUVVXYZ 

QPJBBOYLUDTKABCSVZGIBXVBJ'X 

-It.-

CONFIDENTIAL 
• 

l'rcmt Cere - V1!1.ly5 (Cont '4) 

~ ABCD•PGBIJXLMBOPQBS!UVVXYZ 

LXBBPBGBDH~OCVUYBAJZPQVSIX 

PllABCDIPGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVWXYZ LBPEKQIOCD~VXAZUVBBGKBPJSY 

P~ABCDBPGBIJXLKKOPQBS!UVVXYZ 

BIKVXYAZVQCPGSLBPBBJU~KDBO 

P~ABCDBFGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVVXYZ 

BILIQKJCDB••PB!VVAZYPGXSOU 

Rear Cares - V1riD,s 

U ABCD•PGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVVXYZ 

KDVZBBY~BPIGBQBABXJLOPCWUK 

M ABCDIPGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVWXYZ 

LJCOXP!BBQVGRYBIUPKAZBKVbB 

~ ABCDBPGBIJXLMBOPQRS!UVVXYZ 

KJVVKQOCUBBDPXGZYXLBIRAP!S 

~ ABCDBPOBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVWXYZ 

BVBYSGBABPX•VIBKJLPDZC,QUO 

B~ABCDBPGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVWXYZ 

BBPRSP!VYUDGCQOBKILBAZEXVJ 

B~ABC»BPGBIJKLK•OPQBB!UVVXYZ 

BUBABI!DYFKBXJQWBCLKZPVQOS 

ll~A3CDBPGBIJKLRBOPQBS!UVWXJZ 

KBGPSBCQYLXWVBBDUBPOZAIJE! 

B~ABCDBPGBIJKLKBOPQBS!UVWXYZ 

IRBAZYBBVLB~DPGCSOPQVXBXUJ 

20. It ~ be Ulleful. to 1JLclu4e a Wb':l.DS 41.agraa abav1Jlg 1m"ll1uJ. 

~ 

po:brts u -.rlmd on core faces. "A cl1agra. of :rrcmt Core f1, uaillg t'be 

m1D4 a.Ji>ba'betic BeqU811Ce, 11 presented for Ntereme. 

n A!KIWJKXYZUVSBQPOBLBOP•DCB 

OIMBA!BPXSJLZ•BUYBVDCKPVQO 

21. B111ee, :ID. this case, the alphabets cm. t'be two faces &"N Z'ftm'ae 

111111 :rec1procal,, Wire lJmgth cazmot 'be lllllUN1"ed lillear]J' on th1a cliagra.. • -

'Die fol.l.aw111g tabl.e _,. be Ullfl4 to obtain 1r1re l.eDgtba, trca in;pUt te1'll:lll4. to 

output tem.iD:l,, meaamed cl.oclarise with 1IJ;put face tanrd o'bsener: 

-5-
e 

.. ,.. €9N~~~i~2 Jr!\Ula't Al~ 

Input 1 A 1 Output I.'!. 18 • Jj O.IJ!I • 

Te:rminal 26 B 2 !endmJ. 17 0 11 

25 c 3 16 p J2 

24 D 4 15 Q 13 

23 B 5 14 B 14 

22 ... 6 13 s 15 

21 G 7 2 IJ!I 26 

2f H 8 ll u 17 

I 2i.. J2 v 16 

6 J 22 5 v 23 

T x 21 8 x 

19 L 9 9 y • 19 

3 Jl 25 lO z 18 

Wire :r.ngt;h- Output ~ 11:1.zLua Input !'erm:lDal 

a. Bta."°1" - W1.r1Jls: It ahmld be :restated tbat cm. tbia stator ''A" ot 

the fz'ont face ot tbe core ia at "19" ot tbe riDg. 

ABCDBPGBIJKLKBOPQRS!UVWXYZ 

CSBBXJLVBXWGDZPYOBUPQIJ!IKRAI 

22. A 11811"11.e ot the tape 11114 pziD1; ot the tbe o. x. I. ia attacbed ror 

~= 

ABC~£FGhl JKLMNGPCR S Tl.J\IX\'Z _., - , 
REF ID:A56952 
1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 
REF ID:A56952 
,, 
REF ID :A56952_ 
REF ID:A56952