1. ENIGMA M4 CIPHER MACHINE FROM THE WRECK OF THE GERMAN MINESWEEPER R 15 NEAR UMAG.
- Author
-
GASPARI, Andrej, GERMEK, Danijel, JELINČIČ, Aleš, HREN, Miha, KORAT, Lidija, and FRKA, Danijel
- Subjects
- *
X-ray computed microtomography , *CIPHERS , *CURIOSITIES & wonders , *MACHINE parts - Abstract
In 1984-1986, Zvonimir Kralj, diver and keeper of the Piran Aquarium, recovered the Enigma cipher machine with codebook and several other items from the wreck of the German minesweeper R 15 sunk off the west coast of Istria between Savudrija and Umag. The article describes and defines the device and outlines the technical characteristics of the minesweeper of the 6th Minesweeper Flotilla (6. Räumbootsflottille) of the German Kriegsmarine, which was hit by the British torpedo boat MTB 409 on the night of April 16-17 1945, and sank about 3 nautical miles northwest of Umag. An examination of the preserved parts of the cipher machine revealed that it was a naval Enigma M4 with four rotors and a reflector C. An X-ray microtomography showed the serial number of the machine M 15648 and the last configuration, left to right: C/γ (Gamma), III, VI, IV. The external position of the Gamma rotor (»P«) indicates that the Enigma was not set in a mode compatible with the M3 model, which corresponds to the cipher keys for the last two months of the war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF