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Hand Caesar cipher Vigenère cipher
The image on the right shows one of the few surviving 3 original k.u.k.
cipher discs [1]. The device consists of two concentric carton discs that
can rotate around a metal clip at the centre.
The inner disc has a diameter of 103 mm and is marked SCHEIBE I (disc 1).
It has the full German alphabet plus the numbers 0-9 printed in
blue around
its outer rim (40 characters in total).
This disc is used for the plaintext. The outer disc has a
diameter of 163 mm and is marked SCHEIBE II (disc 2).
The outer rim is printed in green
with the same alphabet in random (scrambled) order.
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The outer disc also holds a ring with the numbers 1-40 printed in red
in ascending (clockwise) order. The number is probably used to set the
KEY (i.e. the transposition or shift of the alphabet).
Depending on the operational procedure, the k.u.k. Chiffrierscheibe
can be described as a mono-alphabetic substitution cipher, or a
poly-alphabetic substitution cipher. In operation, it is similar to the
Dutch Army's Caesar Wheel,
that was used during the Cold War
for training purposes.
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Chiffrierscheibe = Cipher Disc (German).
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k.u.k. = Kaiserlich und Köninglich (Imperial and Royal).
Refers to the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary from 1967 to 1918.
Also written as k. und k. and as k. & k..
➤ Wikipedia
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At present, the disc shown here is the only one known to have surviced [1].
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Plain
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Code
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Cipher
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| a | | 1 | a |
| b | | 2 | h |
| c | | 3 | p |
| d | | 4 | w |
| e | | 5 | ch |
| f | | 6 | 6 |
| g | | 7 | 1 |
| h | | 8 | e |
| i | | 9 | v |
| j | | 10 | q |
| k | | 11 | l |
| l | | 12 | f |
| m | | 13 | 8 |
| n | | 14 | ö |
| o | | 15 | r |
| p | | 16 | 2 |
| q | | 17 | z |
| r | | 18 | u |
| s | | 19 | k |
| t | | 20 | 9 |
| u | | 21 | m |
| v | | 22 | 0 |
| w | | 23 | n |
| x | | 24 | j |
| y | | 25 | y |
| z | | 26 | s |
| ä | | 27 | 3 |
| ö | | 28 | ü |
| ü | | 29 | x |
| ch | | 30 | d |
| 1 | | 31 | 4 |
| 2 | | 32 | i |
| 3 | | 33 | o |
| 4 | | 34 | 5 |
| 5 | | 35 | t |
| 6 | | 36 | c |
| 7 | | 37 | g |
| 8 | | 38 | b |
| 9 | | 39 | ä |
| 0 | | 40 | 7 |
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The exact purpose and era of the k.u.k. cipher disc is still unknown.
Although it is likely that the cipher was used for tactical (low-grade)
traffic, it is unknown which regiment or battalion used it.
If you have any additional information please contact us.
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- Günter Hütter, K.u.K Chiffrierscheibe
Retrieved October 2017.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Sunday 12 November 2017. Last changed: Saturday, 24 February 2018 - 10:55 CET.
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