simon.oxlade
DSC01260
A bombe reconstruction (from the Enigma movie) in its original position in the Bombe room. Each drum on the bombe (red, yellow and green) was equivalent to rotors 1, 2 and 3 on the Enigma. The machine was programmed with the basis of an idea about the settings, devised by a bit of brainpower beforehand. The remaining settings were tested by the bombe - 36 settings at once. Of the setting was false, the drums would move forward to the next setting and try again. Should a possible match be found, the machine would stop and the settings to be tested would be found on the three black wheels. These would then be checked on a real enigma or a UK replica to see if they produced clear German. If yes, then the intercepts for that day could be read, if not then the Bombe would be restarted and more settings would be run.
DSC01260
A bombe reconstruction (from the Enigma movie) in its original position in the Bombe room. Each drum on the bombe (red, yellow and green) was equivalent to rotors 1, 2 and 3 on the Enigma. The machine was programmed with the basis of an idea about the settings, devised by a bit of brainpower beforehand. The remaining settings were tested by the bombe - 36 settings at once. Of the setting was false, the drums would move forward to the next setting and try again. Should a possible match be found, the machine would stop and the settings to be tested would be found on the three black wheels. These would then be checked on a real enigma or a UK replica to see if they produced clear German. If yes, then the intercepts for that day could be read, if not then the Bombe would be restarted and more settings would be run.