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SIGABA ( ACM )
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SIGABA ( ACM )
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Sigaba
Entwicklungsbeginn : Mitte 1930  NSA / USA
Schlüsselsystem : Rotor - System
Arten der Chiffrierverkehre : keine Angaben
kryptologische Festigkeit : keine Angaben
Betriebsart : keine Angaben   mechanische - elektrische Konstruktion
Übertragungsart der Information : keine Angaben
Information :
SIGABA (ACM)
Electric cipher machine (ECM)

SIGABA was a US cipher machine based on the electromechanical rotor principle. It was developed in the late 1930s as a joint effort of the US Army and Navy [1]. At the time it was considered a superior cryptomachine, intended to keep high-level communications absolutely secure. It was so reliable that it was used throughout the 1950s, when it was replaced by newer machines like the KL-7. As far as we know, SIGABA was never broken.

The image on the right shows one of the few SIGABA machines that have survived. It has the appearance of a rather bulky typewriter, featuring a full keyboard at the front. SIGABA is motor-driven and can print its text on a small strip of paper that runs across the front.

The machine has three banks of 5 wheels each, which is clearly visible in the patent below. The main bank (at the rear) contained 5 wheels with 26 contacts each. These were the main cipher wheels and worked similar to the German Enigma machine (more below).

Before, during and after WWII, the US Army and Navy each developed their own cryptographic systems. Neither service shared their knowledge with the other one, except for limited cooperation in the field of enemy signals intelligence. The first exception to this 'rule' was the development of SIGABA. It combined the knowledge of top cryptographers William F. Friedman and Frank B. Rowlett (Army) and Lieutenant Commander Laurence Safford (Navy).

The machine was called SIGABA by the US Army and ECM (Electric Cipher Machine) by the Navy. It is also known as Converter M-134 and CSP-888/889 (Navy). A modified Navy version is known as the CSP-2900.