back to index
M4 Project

This is the first break of the M4 Project:

Ciphertext (stripped of indicator groups):


nczwvusxpnyminhzxmqxsfwxwlkjahshnmcoccakuqpmkcsmhkseinjusblkiosxckubhmllx
csjusrrdvkohulxwccbgvliyxeoahxrhkkfvdrewezlxobafgyujqukgrtvukameurbveksuh
hvoyhabcjwmaklfklmyfvnrizrvvrtkofdanjmolbgffleoprgtflvrhowopbekvwmuqfmpwp
armfhagkxiibg

Plaintext (as seen in the server logs):


Date: 2006-02-20 11:02:26
Score: 6259047
UKW: B
W/0: B241
Stecker: ATBLDFGJHMNWOPQYRZVX
Rings: AAAV
Message key: VJNA

vonvonjlooksjhffttteinseinsdreizwoyyqnnsneuninhaltxxbeiangriffunterwasser
gedruecktywabosxletztergegnerstandnulachtdreinuluhrmarquantonjotaneunacht
seyhsdreiyzwozwonulgradyachtsmystossenachxeknsviermbfaelltynnnnnnoooviery
sichteinsnull

Preliminary interpretation:


Von Looks:

Funktelegramm 1132/19 Inhalt:

Bei Angriff unter Wasser gedrueckt, Wasserbomben. Letzter Gegnerstandort
08:30 Uhr, Marqu AJ 9863, 220 Grad, 8 Seemeilen, stosse nach. 14 Millibar
faellt, NNO 4, Sicht 10.

Preliminary translation:


From Looks:

Radio signal 1132/19 contents:

Forced to submerge during attack, depth charges. Last enemy location
08:30h, Marqu AJ 9863, 220 degrees, 8 nautical miles, (I am) following
(the enemy). (Barometer) falls (by) 14 Millibar, NNO 4, visibility 10.

Confirmed result:

Dan Girard told me that he had seen this very message in the war diary of U264 while looking for possible cribs. The war diary in question can be found at NARA, Microfilm Publication T1022, Roll 2886:


1930     Funkspruch    1851/19/252:
         "   F T  1132/19 Inhalt:
             Bei Angriff unter Wasser gedrückt.
             Wabos. Letzter Gegnerstand 0830 Uhr
             AJ 9863, 220 Grad, 8 sm. Stosse nach.
             14 mb. fällt, NNO 4, Sicht 10.
                           Looks  "

Translation:


1930     Radio signal    1851/19/252:
         "   F T  1132/19 contents:
             Forced to submerge during attack.
             Depth charges. Last enemy position 0830h
             AJ 9863, [course] 220 degrees, [speed] 8 knots. [I am] following [the enemy].
             [barometer] falls 14 mb, [wind] nor-nor-east, [force] 4, visibility 10 [nautical miles].
                          Looks  "

Explanation:


1851/19/252:  time/date/message serial number

AJ 9863:      German naval grid reference, 51-33 N, 41-35 W

Looks:        Hartwig Looks, Kapitänleutnant on U264

Thanks to Ralph Erskine, Dan Girard and Frode Weierud for providing the necessary information as well as several corrections.


Contact:

Stefan Krah <website @ bytereef.org>