Code name 308198 220065460 2008-06-18T03:14:03Z ZX81 7326219 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/71.61.192.14|71.61.192.14]] to last version by ZX81 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) A '''code name''' or '''cryptonym''' is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. Code names are often used for [[military]] purposes, or in [[espionage]]. They may also be used in [[industry]] to protect secret projects and the like from business rivals. == Proliferation of code names in World War II == In the [[Second World War]], code names common to the [[Allies]] referring to nations, cities, geographical features, military units, military operations, diplomatic meetings, places, and individual persons were agreed upon adapting pre-war naming procedures in use by the governments concerned. In the British case code names were administered and controlled by ISSB (The Inter-Services Security Board) staffed by the [[War Office]] with the word list generated and randomised by [[GC&CS]] (later [[GCHQ]]). This procedure was coordinated with the USA when America entered the war. Random lists of code names were issued to users in alphabetical blocks of ten words and were selected as required. Code words became available for re-use after six months and unused allocations could be re-assigned at discretion and according to need. Judicious selection from the available allocation could result in clever meanings and result in an [[aptronym]] or [[backronym]], although policy was to select words that had no obviously deducible connection with what they were supposed to be concealing. Those for the major [[List of World War II conferences|conference meetings]] had a partial naming sequence referring to devices or instruments which had an [[ordinal number]] as part of their meaning, eg the third meeting was "TRIDENT." The ruler of the [[Soviet Union]], who had given himself the name "[[Stalin]]", meaning "man of steel." was given the code name "GLYPTIC," meaning "an image carved out of stone." :* Reference: [http://www.army.mil/CMH/books/wwii/WCP/glosscn.htm Glossary of Code Names] from [[U. S. Army]] in [[World War II]] - Washington Command Post: The Operations Division :* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/frank.kilburn/ WWII Allied Operations] :* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Glossary/index.html Abbreviations, Acronyms, Codewords, Terms Appearing in WW II Histories and Documents] :* Information from original files held at [[TNA:The National Archives]] formerly [[The Public Record Office]] which hold the publicly available records of central government for the [[United Kingdom|UK]] == German code names ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Manhartsberg]] --> [[Ewen Montagu]], a British Naval intelligence officer, discloses in ''Beyond Top Secret Ultra'' that during [[World War II]], [[Nazi Germany]] habitually used ad hoc code names as [[nickname]]s which frequently openly revealed or strongly hinted at their content or function. List of German code names: * Golfplatz (German: Golfcourse) — England - employed by the [[Abwehr]] * Samland — The United States (From [[Uncle Sam]])- employed by the [[Abwehr]] * [[Heimdall]] (A God whose power was "to see for a hundred miles") — long range radar. * [[Battle of the Beams#Y-Ger.C3.A4t|Wotan]] ([[Wotan (deity)|one-eyed God]]) — Based on nothing more than this and the knowledge it was a radar system, [[R.V. Jones]], a British scientist working for [[RAF Intelligence|Air Intelligence]] of the British [[Air Ministry]] and [[SIS]] assumed that it used a single beam and from that determined the system it would have to use. His shrewd assessment was exactly correct. A counter-system was quickly created which made Wotan useless. * [[Operation Seelöwe]] ([[Sealion]]) — Plans to invade Britain (The [[Royal Coat of Arms of England]] depicting three lions passant guardant). * [[Operation Barbarossa]] ([[Frederick Barbarossa]] who went east on a crusade) — Plans to go east and invade the Soviet Union. Conversely, [[Operation Wacht am Rhein]] (Watch on the [[Rhine]]) was deliberately named to suggest the opposite of its purpose - a defensive "watch" as opposed to a massive [[blitzkrieg]] operation, just as was [[Operation Weserübung]] ([[Weser]]-exercise), which signified the plans to invade [[Norway]] via [[Denmark]]. By comparison as a result of the German practice and relative ease of deciphering some element of its content in the post War period the British Ministry of Supply adopted the [[Rainbow Codes]] system which randomly combined a color and a noun (from a list) to create the name for projects. Though memorable the names were unrelated to content. == Ironic code names of other powers == Britain and the United States developed the security policy of assigning code names intended to give no such clues to the uninitiated. For example, the British counter measures against the [[V-2]] was called ''[[Operation Crossbow]]''. The [[Nuclear weapon|atomic bomb]] project centered in [[New Mexico]] was called the [[Manhattan Project]]. The code name for the American [[SR-71]] spy plane project, producing the fastest, highest-flying aircraft in the world, was ''Oxcart''. The American group that planned that country's first [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBM]] was called the Teapot Committee. Although the word could stand for a menace to shipping (in this case, that of Japan) the American code name for the attack on the steamy jungle island of [[Okinawa]] in WWII was ''[[Battle of Okinawa|Operation Iceberg]]''. And the Russian code name for the project to base missiles in Cuba was that named after their closest bomber base to the US (just across the Bering Strait from Nome, Alaska), ''[[Operation Anadyr]]''. The names of colors are generally avoided in British and American practice to avoid confusion with meteorological reporting practices. == Aircraft recognition reporting names == Although the names of the German and Italian aircraft were not given code names by their Allied opponents, in 1942, Captain Frank T. McCoy, an intelligence officer of the [[USAAF]], invented a system for the identification of Japanese military aircraft. Initially using short "[[hillbilly]]" boy's names such as "[[Mitsubishi F1M|Pete]]", "[[Aichi E13A|Jake]]" and "[[Nakajima A6M2-N|Rufe]]", the system was later extended to include girl's names, names of trees and birds, and became widely used by the Allies throughout the Pacific theater of war. This type of naming scheme differs from the other use of code names in that it doesn't have to be kept secret, but is a means of identification where the official nomenclature is unknown or uncertain. The policy of recognition reporting names was continued into the [[Cold War]] for Soviet, other [[Warsaw Pact]], and Communist Chinese aircraft. Although this was started by the Air Standards Co-ordinating Committee (ASCC) formed by the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it was extended throughout [[NATO]] as the [[NATO reporting name]] for aircraft, rockets and missiles. These names were considered by the Soviets as being like a nickname given to one's unit by the opponents in a battle, such as the US Marines were called by the Germans in France "Devil Dogs," which they appreciated as a feather in their cap. The Soviets did not like the [[Sukhoi Su-25]] getting the code name "[[Sukhoi Su-25|Frogfoot]]." {{Fact|date=April 2008}} The sequence by which a code name was given is as follows: aerial or space reconnaissance would note a new aircraft at a Warsaw Pact airbase. The intelligence units would then assign it a code name consisting of the official abbreviation of the base, then a letter, for example, "Ram-A," signifying an aircraft sighted at [[Ramenskoye|Ramenskoye Airport]]. Missiles were given designations like "TT-5", for the fifth rocket seen at [[Baikonur|Tyura-Tam]]. When more information resulted in knowing a bit about what a missile was used for, it would be given a designation like "SS-6," for the sixth surface-to-surface missile design reported. Finally, when either an aircraft or a missile was able to be photographed "with a hand-held camera," instead of a reconnaissance aircraft, it was given a name like "[[Sukhoi Su-27|Flanker]]" or "[[Scud]]" -- always an English word, as international pilots worldwide are required to learn English. The Soviet manufacturer or designation has nothing to do with it, and can even be mistaken by the Allies. Jet-powered aircraft received two-syllable names (like [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|Foxbat]]), while propeller aircraft were designated with short names (like [[Tupolev Tu-4|Bull]]). Fighter names began with an 'F,' bombers with a 'B,' cargo aircraft with a 'C.' Training aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft were grouped under the word "miscellaneous," and received 'M.' The same convention applies to missiles, with air launched ground attack missiles beginning with the letter "K" and surface-to-surface missiles (ranging from [[ICBM|Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles]] to [[antitank]] rockets) with the letter "S," Air-to-Air Missiles "A," and Surface-to-Air Missiles "G." == Churchill on code names for military operations == In a minute on [[August 8]], 1943 [[Winston Churchill]] wrote to [[Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay|General "Pug" Ismay]], Military Secretary of the Defence Committee of the [[British Cabinet]]: <blockquote> "Operations in which large numbers of men may lose their lives ought not to be decided by code-words that imply a boastful and over-confident sentiment, such as "Triumphant," or conversely, which are calculated to invest the plan with an air of despondency, such as "Woebetide" and "Flimsy." They ought not to be names of a frivolous character, such as "Bunnyhug" and "Ballyhoo." They should not be ordinary words often used in other connections, such as "Flood," "Sudden," and "Supreme." Names of living people (ministers or commanders) should be avoided. Intelligent thought will already supply an unlimited number of well-sounding names that do not suggest the character of the operation or disparage it in any way and do not enable some widow or mother to say that her son was killed in an operation called "Bunnyhug" or "Ballyhoo." Proper names are good in this field. The heroes of antiquity, figures from Greek and Roman mythology, the constellations and stars, famous racehorses, names of British and American war heroes, could be used, provided they fall within the rules above." </blockquote> == Military operations since Churchill == Throughout the Second World War, the British allocation practice favored one-word code names ([[Operation Jubilee|Jubilee]], [[Operation Frankton|Frankton]]). That of the Americans favored longer compound words, although the name [[Operation Overlord|Overlord]] was personally chosen by [[Winston Churchill]] himself. Many examples of both types can be cited, as can exceptions. Presently, British forces tend to use one-word names, presumably in keeping with their post-World War 2 policy of reserving single words for operations and two-word names for exercises. Americans prefer two-word names. The Canadians and Australians use either. The French military currently prefer names drawn from nature (such as colors or the names of animals). The American CIA uses alphabetical prefixes to designate the part of the agency supporting an operation. In many cases with US the first word of the name has to do with the intent of the program, programs with HAVE as the first word, such as [[Lockheed Have Blue|HAVE BLUE]] for the stealth fighter development, are developmental programs, not meant to produce a production aircraft, while programs that start with Senior, such as Senior Trend for the F-117, are for aircraft in testing meant to enter production. In the US, code names are commonly set entirely in upper case. This is not done in other countries - though for the UK in British documents the code name is in upper case while operation is shortened to OP eg "Op. TELIC." This presents an opportunity for a bit of public-relations ([[Operation Just Cause]]), or for controversy over the naming choice (Operation Infinite Justice, renamed [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]). Computers are now used to aid in the selection. And further, there is a distinction between the ''secret'' names during former wars and the ''published'' names of recent ones. [[Operation Desert Shield]] was what the build-up in Saudi Arabia was blatantly referred to in the press, before war was declared. During this time, "Desert Storm" was secret. When the war broke out, the name [[Operation Desert Storm]] -- but not the tactical details -- was also broken to the press. Another reason for the use of code names and code phrases in the military is that they transmit with a lower level of [[Chinese whispers|cumulative errors]] over a walkie-talkie or radio link than actual names. == Famous military and espionage code names == * [[Operation Anthropoid]] - assassination of top Nazi [[Reinhard Heydrich]] in [[Prague]] * [[Operation Barbarossa]] - German invasion of [[Soviet Union]] * [[Battle of Normandy|Operation Overlord]] - Allied invasion of Normandy * [[Manhattan Project]] (with [[Trinity site|Trinity]], [[Little Boy]], and [[Fat Man]]) - Early US [[nuclear weapons]] program during [[World War II]] * [[MKULTRA]] - CIA project (an attempt at "mind control") * [[Tube Alloys]] - British nuclear program *[[Operation Sealion]] - planned invasion of Britain by [[Adolf Hitler]] which was never carried out. == Commercial code names in the computer industry == A '''project code name''' is a code name (usually a single word, short phrase or [[acronym]]) which is given to a [[project]] being developed by [[industry]], [[academia]], [[government]], and other concerns. === Reasons for a project code name === Project code names are typically used for several reasons: * To uniquely identify the project within the organization. Code names are frequently chosen to be outside the normal business/domain jargon that the organization uses, in order to not conflict with established terminology. * To assist with maintaining [[secrecy]] of the project against rival concerns. Some corporations routinely change project names in order to further confuse competitors. * When the goal of the project is to develop one or more commercial ''products'', use of a code name allows the eventual choice of product nomenclature (the name the product(s) are marketed and sold under) to be decoupled from the development effort. This is especially important when one project generates multiple products, or multiple projects are needed to produce a single product. This allows for ''subprojects'' to be given a separate identity from the main project. * As a political tool by management, to decouple an early phase of a development effort (which may have failed) from a subsequent phase (which may be given a "fresh start"). * To prevent casual observers from concluding that a pre-release version is a new release of the product, thus helping reduce confusion. Different organizations have different policies regarding the use and publication of project code names. Some companies take great pains to ''never'' discuss or disclose project code names outside of the company (other than with outside entities who have a need to know, and typically are bound with a [[non-disclosure agreement]]). Other companies never use them in official or formal communications, but widely disseminate project code names through informal channels (often in an attempt to create a marketing "buzz" for the project). Still others (such as [[Microsoft]]) discuss code names publicly, and routinely use project code names on beta releases and such, but remove them from final product(s). At the other end of the spectrum, [[Apple Computer]] has recently been including the project code names for [[Mac OS X]] as part of the official product name. === Well-known computer project code names === {{see|List of computer technology code names}} * [[Microsoft]] often names projects (in particular, versions of the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating systems) after place names. Examples include '''Chicago''' ([[Windows 95]]), '''Daytona''' ([[Windows NT 3.5]]), '''Memphis''' ([[Windows 98]]), '''Whistler''' ([[Windows XP]]), '''Longhorn''' ([[Windows Vista]]), and '''Cairo''' (originally thought to be [[Windows NT 4.0]], though many observers now believe that Cairo never turned into a project). See [[Microsoft codenames]]. * [[Intel]] often names CPU projects after [[river]]s in the American West, particularly in the state of [[Oregon]] (where most of Intel's CPU projects are designed). Examples include '''Willamette''', '''Deschutes''', '''Yamhill''', '''Tualatin''', and '''Clackamas'''. See [[List of Intel codenames]]. * [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] have also been naming their [[90 nm]] and [[65 nm]] CPUs under the [[AMD K8|K8]] micro-architecture after the name of cities around the world. For the CPUs under the [[AMD Phenom|Phenom]] brand, name of stars will be used as code names. Examples such as:- ** Single-core [[Athlon 64]] and [[Athlon 64 FX]] : '''Newcastle''', '''Venice''', '''San Diego''' and '''Lima''' ** Dual-core [[Athlon 64 X2]] and [[Athlon 64 FX]]: '''Manchester''', '''Toledo''', '''Windsor''' and '''Brisbane''' ** Phenom CPUs: '''Altair''', '''Antares''', '''Arcturus''' and '''Spica''' * [[Apple Computer]] has named the various major releases of [[Mac OS X]] after [[big cats]], such as '''Jaguar''', '''Tiger''', '''Panther''' and '''Leopard'''. Previously, Apple had used music-related codenames for operating system projects, such as [[Copland (operating system)|Copland]], after [[composer]] [[Aaron Copland]] and [[Gershwin operating system|Gershwin]], after [[George Gershwin]]. * [[Nintendo]] often uses code names for new consoles. The best-known is that of [[Wii]], which was code-named '''Revolution''' for over a year. Others include the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]'s code name of '''Dolphin''', the [[Game Boy Advance]]'s code name of '''[[Atlantis]]''', the [[Nintendo 64]] as '''Project Reality''', the [[Nintendo DS|DS]] code name '''Project Nitro''', and the [[Game Boy Micro]] code name '''Oxy'''. * [[Mozilla]] code-named [[Mozilla Firefox]] 2.0, "Bon Echo," and 3.0 "Gran Paradiso." == See also == * [[Pseudonym]], the term for a code name when applied to a single person. * [[Code word]] * [[CIA cryptonym]] * [[List of operations and projects (military and non-military)|Military Operations listed by Codename]] * [[Microsoft codenames]] * [[NATO reporting name]] * [[NATO phonetic alphabet]] * [[Rainbow Codes]] * [[Classified information in the United States]] * [[-onym]] - for others similar to cryptonym * [[Working title]] == References == <references/> == External links == * [http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/codenames.html Code Names for U.S. Military Projects and Operations] * [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/27/1359252 Code Names: A Look Behind Secret U.S. Military Plans in the Middle East, Africa and at Home] - Broadcast on ''[[Democracy Now!]]'' January 27, 2005. * [http://www.apple-codenames.com/index.php?id=20 List of codes names used by Apple Computer Inc. for many of their products during development] * [http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/Channel9.CodeNames Various Microsoft product codenames from over the years.] * [http://www.apple-codenames.com Apple Computer internal product codenames] * [http://www.codenamegenerator.com Codename Generator] [[Category:Project management]] [[Category:Types of words]] [[da:Kodenavn]] [[de:Codename]] [[fr:Nom de code]] [[it:Nome in codice]] [[ko:코드네임]] [[nl:Codenaam]] [[ja:コードネーム]] [[pl:Kryptonim]] [[pt:Nome de código]] [[ru:Кодовое имя]] [[sv:Kodnamn]]