Homepage
Crypto
Index
Glossary
Enigma
Hagelin
Fialka
Rotor
Pin-wheel
TROL
Voice
Data
Hand
OTP
EMU
HSM
Mixers
Phones
Bulk
FILL
Codebooks
Algorithms
Chips
Cryptanalysis
Toys
World War II
Countries
Manufacturers
Spy radio
Burst encoders
Intercept
Covert
Radio
PC
Telex
Telephones
People
Agencies
Manufacturers
DONATE
Publications
Standards
For sale
Kits
Shop
News
Events
Wanted
Contact
About us
Links
 
 
 
  		Click for homepage
Codebreaking
Cryptanalytic machines - this page is a stub

The use of special purpose devices (machines) for analysis of encrypted messages and aiding in solving such messages, date back to shortly before the start of World War II (WWII). Before that time, ciphers were usually broken by hand, but the vast increase of machine-encrypted traffic – in particular by the German Army – prompted the development of automated codebreaking aids.


Allied cryptanalysis during WWII
WWII cryptanalytic machines
NameCountryDescriptionYear
Cyclometer Poland Device for assisting in catalog attacks on Enigma 1935
Bomba Poland Exploits double use of message indicator in Enigma messages 1938
Bombe UK Exploits cribs in Enigma messages 1939
Bombe USA Improved version of the UK Bombe 1943
Heath Robinson UK TUNNY codebreaking device 1943
Colossus UK Codebreaking device for SZ-40/41 1944
Cryptanalytic machines used by NSA
Below is a non-exhaustive list of cryptanalytic machines and peripheral equipment, used by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and its predecessors, during WWII and during the Cold War, as listed in [1], [2], [3] and [4]. Click on any of items printed in blue for further information. The names shown in italics are suggested by us, and are not the official names used by the NSA.

NameRefDescriptionYear
ABMLXFFParallel relay computer1949
ABNERAFSAF-32, AFSAF-D53Electronic digital computer1952
ADDAFSAF 45Arabic Deciphering Device 
ALCATRAZAFSAF-92, CXLQDiagraph frequency counter1950
ASAY-7 ANALOG-Analog of ASAY-7 ciphony device1948
AMBERAFSAF D100, CXMPPhotoelectric comparator 
ASP?Japanese call sign deciphering 
ATLAS IAFSAF-70, CXMXParallel electronic computer1950
ATLAS IIAFSAF-70A, AFSAF-70BParallel electronic computer1953
AUTOSCRITCHERGRAPEVINEEnigma crib tester 
??B-211 Stecker Finder   
BABY OPHISAFSAF-D57AWired Wheel Analog1953
BAKERAFSAF-D89Low-speed parallel relay computer1953
BRUTE FORCE DEVICEAXHB/1Exhaustive coincidence finder1942
BOMBE (US) ? Machine to solve Enigma 1943
CAMEL?Locating cryptographic instructions in Japanese messages 
Chinese Typewriter?Ideographic typewriter
Card-operated character typewriter		 
CONNIE IAFSAF-1Polygraphic coincidence counter 
CONNIE IIAFSAF-D/1APolygraphic coincidence counter 
COPPERHEADAFSAF-94, CXMN, CXPCPhotoelectric comparator 
COUNTESSAFSAF D/13Round robin coincidence searcher 
DELLAAFSAF D/51-1, -2Round robin comparator 
DUTCHESSAFSAF-D68Group repeat tester 
EXPANDED COMPARATORAFSAF-27Photoelectric comparator 
FREAK IAFSAF-24Multiple frequency counter 
FROGAFSAF-33B-221 Cribdragger1950
GEEWHIZZER I - IVAFSAF-112ELECTROMECHANAGRAMMER, Weighting device1941
GREEN ANALOG?Analog of Japanese Green machine1946
HMSAFSAF-38Hagelin Message Setter1949
HPSGAFSAF-46Hagelin Parity Stream Generator1950
HECATE AFSAF-91, CXDD Hagelin C-38 cribdragger 1948
HELCAT I, MATTHEW, ELKET, JRAFSAF-D/59, DEF 59Electronic Key Tester1953
HSTTRAFSAF-D/63High-speed teletype reader
Chadless tape reader		1953
ICKY ICXCL35mm photoelectric comparator1943
ISAAFSAF-1-X, CONNIE-1-XIsomorphic Depth Analysis1951
INITRAM-Backwards stepping MARTINI1948
JMA-Relay-operated deciphering device (replacement for MATTHEW)1942
J-SQUARE UNITS-Code decipherment and recognition1947
LDM-Longitudinal differencing machine1944
Letterwriter AFSAF-96, CXCO Perforated Tape Equipment
Input/output device (terminal) 		1939
Limited Selector-Code recognition and deciphering device1943
MAISIEAFSAF-D74Magnetic card file look-up device  
MAMBACXLTMessage setting device1944
MARTINI-Relay analog of Russian LONGFELLOW1948
MATTHEW      
McSNOYDAFSAF-D75Electronic cross products sum counter1950
MERCURY-Relay-operated group-scoring device, Navy version of Army SLIDE-RUN1945
MIKENCR Diagraph Counter
CXMM		Monograph and diagraph counter1944
MISTRESSAFSAF-D73ASpecial purpose repeat search device 
M-8AFSAF-108, XBLModified ECM (SIGABA)1943
NCRDCAFSAF-118NCR Differencing Calculator
Additive Calculator		1942
PINK ANALOG-Analog of PINK cipher machine1946
PLUTOAFSAF-30, Cycle AnalyserSpecial purpose generator1951
Prepunch VerifierAFSAF-D67Tape verifier1952
PURPLE ALALOG-Analog of Japanese 'B'1941
PURPLE DUDBUSTER-Electrical cribtester for PURPLE1945
ROBIN IAFSAF-D/54, CXORPhotoelectric comparator1950
ROBIN IIAFSAF-D/54-1Photoelectric comparator1951
SATYR AFSAF-102, CXDA Electrical Hagelin C-38 analog 1944
SETTING GENERATORAFSAF-35, CMSGRelay-operated testing device 
SLIDE-RUNAFSAF-29, AXAB/1Deciphering and message setting device, Code recognition unit1944
SUPERSCRITCHERAFSAF-18Electronic cribtester1951
TESSIE➤ ICKY IArmy name for ICKY I  
TUNNY DRAGON-Geheimschreiber cribtester1944
WARLOCK I AFSAFG-D79, CXNK Electronic message setter for Hagelin 1951
WARLOCK II AFSAFG-D80, CXPB Universal electronic message setter 1951
WWH-Testing device for rotor machines
Wired Wheel Handtester		1946
5202 Comparator MkIIAFSAF-41High-speed IC comparator1952


German cryptanalysis during WWII
German cryptanalytic agencies
  • OKW/Chi
    Supreme Command Armed Forces, Signal Intelligence Agency
  • OKH/G d NA
    Army High Command, Signal Intelligence Agency, Cryptanalysis
  • OKL/LN Abt 350
    Air Force High Command, Signal Intelligence Agency, Section B
  • OKM/4 SKL/II
    Navy High Command, Signal Security Agency
  • OKM/4 SKL/III
    Navy High Command, Signal Intelligence Agency
  • Pers Z S
    Foreign Office, Cryptanalytic Section
  • OKH/In 7/VI
    Inspectorate 7/VI (predecessor of OKH/G d NA)
Broken by Germany
Not broken by Germany
Cryptanalytic machines used by Germany
NameDescriptionYear
BigramsuchgerätDiagraphic weight recorder1943
SägebockPolygraphic coindidence counter1942
TurmuhrStatistical depth increaser1943
?Simple counting appratus1943
?Non-recording differencing calculator1943
?Recording differencing calculator1943
WitzkisteLikely additive selector1943
?Repeat finder (under development)1945
Alphabetic index
References
  1. US Navy Captain E.S.L. Goodwin, Utilisation of Analytical Machinery
    NSA, 13 June 1952. TOP SECRET SUEDE. 1

  2. LeRoy H. Wheatley, Cryptanalytic Machines in NSA
    NSA, 30 May 1953. TOP SECRET CANOE. 1
    ➤  Includes second installment (PDF page 137)

  3. LeRoy H. Wheatley, Brief Description of Analytic Machine, Forth Installment
    NSA, 20 September 1954. TOP SECRET FROTH. 1

  4. Colin B. Burke, It Wasn't All Magic: The early Struggle to Automate Cryptanalysis
    1930s - 1960s. NSA, Center for Cryptologic History, 2002. 1,2

  5. European Axis Signal Intelligence in WWII - Volume 2
    Notes on German high level cryptography and Cryptanalysis.
    Army Security Agency (NSA), 1 May 1946. TOP SECRET CREAM. 1
  1. Partly declassified by NSA persuant to Executive Order 13526 (24 January 2014 — 16 June 2014).
  2. This document contains many scanning errors and distorted images.
Further information
Any links shown in red are currently unavailable. If you like the information on this website, why not make a donation?
Crypto Museum. Created: Friday 12 March 2021. Last changed: Saturday, 06 December 2025 - 11:27 CET.
Click for homepage