The "PT" - WWII Soviet Radiooperators Chatter Table


This code, used to facilitate the radio operations between stations in the Soviet military communications nets, bears the Swedish designation "SS-koden" (the SS code). It is most probably the same code, as the Russians referred to as PT (Переговорная Таблица, or "Chatter Table"). During the war, different PT's were in use, such as the PT-35 used from 1935 upto 1939, when it was superseded by the PT-39 used during the period 1939-42. A new code, the PT-41 was used during 1941-45.

It is not possible to deduce from the archive material which one of these the SS-code represents, but I'd guess it is the PT-39.

The code, in the form of a table having 10 by 10 cells, uses 2-figure codegroups to refer to the individual cells. This is done in the standard way, by having 1-figure coordinates inscribed across the top, and down the side. These coordinates were most probably changed periodically, and good practice dictates that different radio nets should have their own set of coordinates.

One way of changing coordinates was by using a call sign encryption system used by the Soviet Ground Forces. The Finnish Sigint organisation of the time, reconstructed the system, which you'll find here.

One decoded intercept found in the archives suggests changes of coordinates could be achieved by sending the new coordinates - encrypted - over radio:

January 1st, 1942 0551 hours
To Plavsk.
Commander of Regiment, Gorshkov.
I send you information regarding the radio link with Chern, call sign ZDN.
Your "GRM" for the front is "RPK". The keys to PT-39A are as follows:

Horizontal: 7896543120
Vertical: 1234590876

Wavelength: 127, back-up wavelength 115.

Signed: Major Slukhayev.

Two versions of the SS-code are found in the FRA archives. One is a translation into Swedish, and the other is in the original Russian language. Both are quite large sheets of paper, so rather than doing a scan, I decided to encode the Russian version together with an English translation in HTML table-format, which - unfortunately - ended up quite large as well, I hope you don't mind that.


Russian version

 
0
1
2
3
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5
6
7
8
9
0Вне всякой
очереди
(1)
Установите...Повторите радиограмму НР...Функции главной рации сети передаю
(А)
Имею
(К)
Ваша радиограмма передана по назначению
(Ф)
Место стоянки
(Я)
Пароль рации
(")
Рация ...
не работает,
она снялась
для перехода
Позывной
1Серия "Г"
(2)
Переходит/е...У вас пропадает работа. Осмотрите рациюСкоро ли подойдет к аппарату...
(Б)
... у аппарата
будет через
... мин.
(Л)
Конными
(Х)
Данные
(ТЧК)
Отзыв рацииНомер/ом таблицыРасписание
2Литер "Б"
(3)
Увеличьте
мощность
передачи
Это радиограмму немедленно доставьте...Вас вызывает рация...
(В)
У аппарата...
(М)
Просит к аппарату
(Ц)
Едкого калич
(ЗПТ)
Радиостанция
/и,ей,ями/
Рация... вас слышит и отвечает вамУ меня есть
3Служебная
(4)
Уменьшите
мощность
передачи
Это радиограмму передайте на рацию...Коммандир-
/а,у/
(Г)
Далеко ли от вас
(Н)
Время ... часов
(Ч)
Ламп к приемнику
(:)
Для рации мне неовходимо...Рация вас не слышитПередайте группы в радиограмме по 2 раза
4Циркулярно
всем станция
сети
(5)
Работайте
скоростью
... гр.
в минуту
Вручена ли радиограмма НР.../кому/...Комиссар/а,у/
(Д)
У меня нет
(О)
Ламп к передатчику
(Ш)
Прибыл ли ...
(-)
... от меня находится в ...Волна/е/Ваша радиограмма еще не передана
5Призыв
к порядку
/прекратить
обмен/
(6)
Слышите ли вы работу рации ...ДоложитеНачальник/а,у/
(Е)
Анодных/е/ батарей/и/
(П)
Сводку
(Щ)
Сообщите
(")
Читайте кодовые фразыРаботу указываемой вами рации я слышуРаботает
/йте/
6Позовите
к аппарату...
(7)
Вызовите для меня рациюПереходите на работу телеграфомСвязь/и/
(Ж)
Аккумулат-
оров/ы/
(Р)
Резерв/е/
(Ь)
Уничтожен-
а/ы/
Рация свертывается для переходаБудем вести радиообмен попеременноРаботу рации я слышу ...
7Имеете ли
вы...
(8)
Отвечает ли мне рация ...Переходите на работу телефономШтаб/а,у/
(З)
Проводной
/ную/
(С)
Прием/а/
(Ы)
Горючее/его/Буду работать только на приемРадиограмма НР... вручена в ... час ... мин ... /кому/Вы работаете волной не по расписанию. Ваша волна ...
8Получены
ли вами...
(9)
Принята ли вами радиограмма НР...Читайте кодовый набор цифр/букв/Работу радиофоном принимать не могу. Мне мешают рации. Работайте ключем
(И)
Автомашин/ы/
(Т)
Километров
(Э)
Новые/х/Указываемая вами радиограмма принятаМне мешают атмосферные разрядыДелегат/а/
9Вышлите... (0)Передана ли
вами радиограмма
НР... на рацию
Где находится...Работу ключем
принимать
не могу.
Мне мешают
рации работайте
радиофоном
(Й)
Радио
(У)
Зарядная/ой
база/ы
(Ю)
У меня
будет
Ваша радио-
грамма НР... не
расшифровы-
вается
Мне мешает
на волне
рация...
 

English translation

I have translated to English mainly from the Swedish version, and only used the Russian original when I was in doubt as to the meaning (the Swedish version is full of non-standard abbreviations etc. sometimes making the intended meaning obscure). In one instance, the Swedish version had "Automatic transmittor" where the Russian version had "Automobile". In that case I chose the original meaning found in the Russian version, but I agree that "Automatic transmittor" is more in place in the code vocabulary.
I am sure there are more peculiarities like these if you do a thorough check of both versions. The reader who finds any such errors are encouraged to contact me and suggest corrections. My bad command of the Russian language makes it impossible to find all errors on my own.
 
0
1
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0Highest precedence
(1)
Establish ...Repeat message no:...Take over for me as net control station
(A)
I have got ...
(K)
Your msg passed on to addressee
(F)
Standing position
(Ya)
Name of stationStation not on air due to regroupingCall
1Series "G" [urgent?]
(2)
Switch to ...Your signal vanishes. Check station... will come to the set soon
(B)
... will come to the set in ... minutes
(L)
Horse mounted
(Kh)
Sent/given
(Full stop)
Station call signChart number ...List
2Char "B"
(3)
Increase transmitting powerHand over this msg to ... immediatelyYou are being called by ...
(V)
... is at the set
(M)
Ask to the set
(Ts)
Tune/calibrate sharper
(comma)
Radio station/sStation ... hears you and is replyingI have got
3Service
(4)
Decrease transmitting powerRetransmit this msg to ...(to) Commander/s
(G)
Far away from you?
(N)
At ... hours
(Ch)
Receiver valve
(colon)
I need ... at the radio stationStation ... doesn't hear youTransmit each group twice
4Circular for all stations in the net
(5)
Send at a speed of ... wpmHas msg no:... been delivered?(to) Commissar/s
(D)
I don't have
(O)
Transmitter valve
(Sh)
Has arrived
(dash)
... from me, is at/in ...WavelengthYour msg:... not yet retransmitted
5Back to order (switching ends)
(6)
Do you hear station ...?Report(to) chief/s
(E)
Anode batteries
(P)
Specification[?]
(Shch)
Tell
(quote)
Read code phraseIn contact with the station you're trying to reachWorking
6Call ... to the set
(7)
Call ... for meSwitch to morseConnection
(Zh)
Accumulators
(R)
Spare/reserve
(soft sign)
AnnihilatedGoing off air due to regroupingWe are to begin switching in turnThis is station ... listening
7Have you ...
(8)
Any reply from ... ?Switch to voice(to) Staff / HQS
(Z)
Wire
(S)
Reception
(Y)
FuelI will receive onlyMsg:... has been delivered to ... at ... hoursYou are working on incorrect wavelength. Your wavelength is ...
8Have you received ... ?
(9)
Have you received msg:... ?Read figures/lettersUnable to receive. Interference. Switch to morse.
(I)
Automobile
(T)
Kilometre/s
(E')
NewMessage ... receivedAtmospheric interferenceDelegation
9Transmit ...
(0)
Have you retransmitted msg:... to ...?Where is ...Unable to receive. Interference. Switch to voice.
(J)
Radio
(U)
Ammunitions depot
(Yu)
I am about to ...Your msg:... undecipherableMy work on wavelength ... is interfered by station ... 
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© Torbjörn Andersson.Torbjцrn Andersson Fecit