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Colossus computer
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Colossus was a set of computers developed by British codebreakers in the years 1943–1945 to help in the cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher. Colossus used thermionic valves to perform Boolean and count
A Colossus Mark 2 computer being operated by Wrens. The slanted control panel on the left was used to set the "pin" (or "cam") patterns of the Lorenz.
A Colossus Mark 2 computer being operated by Wrens. The slanted control panel on the left was used to set the "pin" (or "cam") patterns of the Lorenz. The "bedstead" paper tape transport is on the right.
A Lorenz SZ42 cipher machine with its covers removed at The National Museum of Computing on Bletchley Park
A Lorenz SZ42 cipher machine with its covers removed at The National Museum of Computing on Bletchley Park
The Lorenz SZ machines had 12 wheels, each with a different number of cams (or "pins"). Wheel number 123456789101112 BP wheel name ψ1 ψ2 ψ3 ψ4 ψ5 μ37
The Lorenz SZ machines had 12 wheels, each with a different number of cams (or "pins"). Wheel number 123456789101112 BP wheel name ψ1 ψ2 ψ3 ψ4 ψ5 μ37 μ61 χ1 χ2 χ3 χ4 χ5 Number of cams (pins) 434751535937614131292623
Cams on wheels 9 and 10 showing their raised (active) and lowered (inactive) positions. An active cam reversed the value of a bit (0→1 and 1→0).
Cams on wheels 9 and 10 showing their raised (active) and lowered (inactive) positions. An active cam reversed the value of a bit (0→1 and 1→0).
Bombe
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The Bombe was an electro-mechanical device used by British cryptologists to help decipher German Enigma-machine-encrypted secret messages during World War II. The British Bombe was developed from the
Colossus computer
…was designed by Turing, not Flowers, to aid the cryptanalysis of the Enigma but an earlier machine that Turing designed was the electromechanical Bombe. The prototype, Colossus Mark 1, was working by December 1943 and was in use at Bletchley Park by early 1944. An improved Colossus Mark 2 which used…
A wartime picture of a Bletchley Park Bombe
A wartime picture of a Bletchley Park Bombe
A three-rotor Enigma with plugboard (Steckerbrett)
A three-rotor Enigma with plugboard (Steckerbrett)
The plugboard of an Enigma machine, showing two pairs of letters swapped: S–O and A–J. During World War II, ten plugboard connections were made.
The plugboard of an Enigma machine, showing two pairs of letters swapped: S–O and A–J. During World War II, ten plugboard connections were made.
A German Enigma key list with machine settings for each day of one month
A German Enigma key list with machine settings for each day of one month