JADE was a stepping-switch crypto system used by the Imperial Japanese Navy for secure communications from late 1942 until 1944. JADE was similar to another cipher machine, CORAL, with the main difference that JADE was used to encipher messages in katakana using an alphabet of 50 symbols.

This captured unit is on display at the National Cryptologic Musem. (Photo by Jerry Proc)

A closer view. Click to enlarge. (Photo by Mark Pellegrini)

Contributors and Credits:

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JADE

Nov 1/10