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A family of commercial machines
In 1927, developments were started to create improved versions of the
commercial Enigma D machine. One of the most important
offsprings
was the Enigma K that was given the model number
A27
and internal designator Ch. 11b.
The letter 'K' was probably used for the German word Kommerziell
(commercial).
Apart from a few manufacturing modifications, this machine is identical
to the Enigma D.
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Initially, all machines had serial numbers starting (confusingly)
with the letter A, and it wasn't until 1936 that the
letter K was used as a prefix for the serial numbers of these machines.
Many Enigma K machines were built for German users, such as the
Reichsbahn (railway). They were also sold to a number of foreign users.
It is known that the Italian Navy (Supermarina)
used Enigma K machines throughout WWII. Modified versions of the Enigma
K were also used during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
and by the Swiss Army during WWII.
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Initially, each wheel had a single turnover notch (regular stepping),
but in later variants, the number of notches was increased.
The Enigma T (1942), for example, had 5 notches on each
wheel and the wheels of the Enigma KD (1944) even had 9 turnover
notches (irregular stepping).
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- Swiss Enigma K variant (1938)
This was a standard Enigma K machines that was rewired by the Swiss.
On some machines the wheel turnover system was slightly modified.
- Enigma T (Tirpitz) (1942)
Special version designed for the Japanese forces. It was supplied
with 8 wheels with 5 turnover notches each.
All serial numbers started with the letter T.
- Enigma KD (1944)
Special version of the Enigma K, developed in 1944.
It had three wheels with 9 turnover notches each,
and a rewirable reflector UKW-D.
- Reichsbahn (Railway) Enigma
This was a common Enigma K that was rewired especially for the
German Railway, the Reichsbahn.
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The wiring of the wheels of the standard Enigma K was identical
to the wiring of the Enigma D. This suggests that the
machine was initially intended for commercial customers. The standard
commercial wiring is given in the table below.
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| Wheel |
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ |
Notch |
Turnover |
# |
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| ETW |
QWERTZUIOASDFGHJKPYXCVBNML |
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| I |
LPGSZMHAEOQKVXRFYBUTNICJDW |
G |
Y |
1 |
| II |
SLVGBTFXJQOHEWIRZYAMKPCNDU |
M |
E |
1 |
| III |
CJGDPSHKTURAWZXFMYNQOBVLIE |
V |
N |
1 |
| UKW |
IMETCGFRAYSQBZXWLHKDVUPOJN |
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The most famous and well-known Enigma K variant is probably the version that
was built for the Swiss. Although it is not an official name, this machine is
often called the Swiss-K.
The machines were ordered by the Swiss before WWII and the first batch was
delivered in 1939.
 More information
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This machine was based on the standard Enigma K, but had differently
wired wheels and a rewirable reflector (UKW-D).
It first appeared on 3 December 1944 and remained in use
throughout the rest of the war by the German Militärisches Amt
(Abwehr).
During the Enigma Reunion 2009 we were able to see the Enigma KD
for the first time.
More information
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During WWII, the Germans used a special Enigma machine for
the German Railway (Reichsbahn).
It basically was a standard Enigma K with rewired wheels
and a rewired UKW. Furthermore, the position of the notches
of wheels I and III were swapped.
More information
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