Enigma rotor details: Encyclopedia II - Enigma rotor details - The offset

Enigma rotor details - The offset

In order to understand the effect of rotation on the rotors we demonstrate this by some examples.

As an example, let us take rotor type I without any ring setting offset. You can see that an A is encoded as an E, a B encoded as a K, and a K is encoded as an N. Notice that every letter is encoded into another.

In the case of the reflectors, we take Wide B where an A is returned as a Y and the Y is returned as an A. Notice that the wirings are connected as a loop between two letters.

When a rotor has stepped, you must take into account the offset to know what the output is, and where it enters the next rotor. If for example rotor I is in the B-position, an A enters at the letter B which is wired to the K. Because of the offset this K enters the next rotor in the J position.

With the rotors I, II and III (from left to right), wide B-reflector, all ring settings in A-position, and startposition AAA, typing AAAAA will produce the encoded sequence BDZGO.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The offset", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki