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M-209 Home Page
TM 11-380, May 1947, excerpts:
TM 11-380 1943, US (11 Mo)
TM 11-380 1943, French
Indicators
Security measures
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Introduction
The TM 11-380 manual explains how to use the M-209 cipher machine. The
US Army distributed the cipher machine in a set. Each set was composed of
the M-209 itself, a pouch to carry it, a spare roll of paper and two
TM 11-380 manuals.
The manual describes several things :
- The description of the machine (vocabulary).
- The different parts of the machine and their reference (to replace
it)
- How to set the internal key (Pins and Lugs setting) from a key list,
with an example of a key list.
- How to cipher and decipher a message.
- Checking and correction errors.
- How to destroy the cipher machine (to prevent the enemy to get it).
- How to dissassemble the machine, to do minor repairs and maintenance.
- How to create a key list.
- An example of indicator system.
Remark : the last two items were rarely used by an ordinary cipher clerk.
Most key list and system indicators were given in a separate document :
SOI (Signal Operation Instructions). These documents were prepared under
control of the Signal officers.
There are several versions of the TM 11-380:
- TM 11-380, 33 pages, April 27, 1942.
- TM 11-380, 42 pages, September 20, 1943.
- TM 11-380, 78 pages, March 17, 1944.
- TM 11-380, 170 pages, May 1947.
References
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