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<*** There are 2 methods to get credit for finding this Cache ***>
(Option A) Include with your log entry a picture of the Captain's Chair with either you or your Geocaching name in the picture. There are times when the Bridge Area where the Captain's chair is located is NOT open or inaccessible, therefore a picture on the "Bow" of the ship will be a qualified substitute in lieu of the Captain's chair photo.
OR a slightly more challenging:
(Option B) In addition to your log entry; send the DAK Girls via a private message -----> the accurately decrypted code <-----
Please do NOT include the answer in your log entry or upload any pictures that might reveal an actual Code Segment.
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Excitedly Alyx began writing down the strange sounds emitting from her headphones. She immediately knew that she had stumbled upon a secret message being transmitted in Morse code:
.-. . .- -.. -.-- / - --- / -... . --. .. -. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .- -.. ...- . -. - ..- .-. . ..--.. / .-- .... .- - / -.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / .- -... --- ..- - / - .... . / ..- ... ... / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- ..--.. / ... - .- -.-- / - ..- -. . -.. / ..-. --- .-. / ..-. ..- .-. - .... . .-. / .. -. ... - .-. ..- -.-. - .. --- -. ...
Quickly, she looked up how to translate the dots and dashes into something she could read and found an exceptional on-line translator at https://morsecode.scphillips.com/translator.html
After converting the Morse code to written text, the message read:
“Ready to begin your adventure? What do you know about the USS Midway? Stay tuned for further instructions.....”
Alyx called her sister Devyn to get some help with the initial research. Together they found from Wikipedia that:
USS Midway (CVB/CVA/CV-41) was an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. Commissioned a week after the end of World War II, Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California.
"Beep, beep beep, beep, beep beep beep, beep beep, beep, beep beep beep", the next part of the secret message was emanating from the headphones lying beside the Ham Radio equipment. How cool that her Dad had let them play with the old fashioned technology. She knew the radio was really ancient but it provided her with some alternative entertainment. It was a fun way to get her sisters and her interested in electronic technology and computer programming at an early age, just like Geocaching with GPS.
She wrote down the beeps that were being transmitted:
- .... . / ... .... .. .--. / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -... . / ...- .. ... .. - .. -. --. / ... --- --- -. / .. ... / -.-. .- .-.. .-.. . -.. / - .... . / ..- ... ... / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- .-.-.- / - .... . / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- / .. ... / --- -. . / --- ..-. / - .... . / .-.. --- -. --. . ... - -....- ... . .-. ...- .. -. --. / .- .. .-. -.-. .-. .- ..-. - / -.-. .- .-. .-. .. . .-. ... / .. -. / - .... . / ..- -. .. - . -.. / ... - .- - . ... / -. .- ...- -.-- --..-- / --- .--. . .-. .- - .. -. --. / ..-. .-. --- -- / ... . .--. - . -- -... . .-. / .---- ----. ....- ..... --..-- / .--- ..- ... - / .- ..-. - . .-. / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. / .-- .- .-. / .. .. / . -. -.. . -.. / ..- -. - .. .-.. .---- ----. ----. ..--- / .-- .... . -. / ... .... . / .-- .- ... / -.. . -.-. --- -- -- .. ... ... .. --- -. . -.. .-.-.- / -. .- -- . -.. / .- ..-. - . .-. / - .... . / -.-. .-.. .. -- .- - .. -.-. / -... .- - - .-.. . / --- ..-. / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- / --- ..-. / .--- ..- -. . / .---- ----. ....- ..--- --..-- / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- / .-- .- ... / -... ..- .. .-.. - / .. -. / --- -. .-.. -.-- / .---- --... / -- --- -. - .... ... --..-- / -... ..- - / -- .. ... ... . -.. / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. / .-- .- .-. / .. .. / -... -.-- / --- -. . / .-- . . -.- / .-- .... . -. / -.-. --- -- -- .. ... ... .. --- -. . -.. / --- -. / ... . .--. - . -- -... . .-. / .---- ----- --..-- / .---- ----. ....- ..... .-.-.-
Together they translated the above message and exclaimed “Wow! This is going to be so cool! Let’s get Kristyn to help us with this too, she is always up for an adventure!" Alyx called her younger sister and she excitedly came over ready for a thrilling day ahead.
USS Midway Flight Deck
Ok, but first we really need to educate ourselves on the USS Midway before we go. So they consulted Google and found out what made this ship so magnificent:
Alyx exclaimed “She is HUGE!” The USS Midway is 1,001 feet long, which is about the length of 3 football fields and is as high as a 20-story building. "OMG she weighs almost 70,000 tons!" She continued reading:
USS Midway
The Midway can carry up to 80 aircraft. She has 3 elevators that were used to move planes from the flight deck to inside the ship. Each of these elevators could carry 110,000 pounds. The Midway’s crew numbered 4,500 men. In order to keep those men well fed, the Midway’s 4 galleys (kitchens) had to serve over 13,000 meals a day!
The Midway has a large 41 painted on the side of her. "What's that all about? queried Devyn. Kristyn said "Well, the Navy numbers its ships in order, as they are built. The very first aircraft carrier ever built in the United States was the USS Langley, built in 1922. It was number 1. The Midway, built in 1945, was number 41."
USS Midway island structure
Alyx asked “How did she get her name?” Devyn responded “Every Navy ship in the United States has a name beginning with USS, which stands for United States Ship. Midway was the name of an important battle in World War II. That’s why the Navy chose Midway for the name of this ship. Some say that because of her proud career and service, the Midway is magic!”
On another website they found:
In 1992, after a career that lasted 47 years, the Midway was finally decommissioned. Over 200,000 men have served on the Midway and she received many awards for outstanding service. Many people felt her memory should be honored, and they didn’t want to see her rust away and become forgotten. They made plans to bring her to San Diego and make her into a museum. The USS Midway Museum opened in June of 2004.
USS Midway Radio Room
Another beeping from the radio and they all listened intently as the next message came through:
-.-- --- ..- .-. / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / .- -... --- .- .-. -.. / - .... . / ..- ... ... / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- / .. ... / - --- / ..-. .. -. -.. / ..-. --- ..- .-. / -. ..- -- . .-. .. -.-. / -.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - ... / .- .-.. --- -. --. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .-. . --.- ..- .. .-. . -.. / .. -. -.. .. -.-. .- - --- .-. / ... - .- .-. - .. -. --. / .--. --- .. -. - / -. ..- -- -... . .-. .-.-.- / .-- .. - .... / - .... . ... . / .. -. / .... .- -. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -. / - .... . -. / -.. . -.-. .-. -.-- .--. - / - .... . / ... . -.-. .-. . - / -- . ... ... .- --. . .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -. . . -.. / - --- / .-.. . .- .-. -. / .--- -. -....- ..--- ..... .-.-.-
Now we know what we need to do once we are on board the ship, but we still do not know how to solve this mystery, what the bleep is JN-25? Let’s get Dad, he knows everything.
Just then Dad entered the room with a big smile on his face, "What mischief are you girls up to?" They soon filled him in and when they asked about JN-25. He, of course, had an answer:
"JN-25 was the name of the code system used as the primary means of security for the Japanese military communications. The need to crack this code became a high priority for our military spy efforts in World War II. "
USS Midway Morse Code Machine
"A top secret project, with a team of over 738 highly trained naval staff headquartered at Pearl Harbor worked night and day to crack JN-25. The commander in charge of the operation was Commodore John Rochefort who was uniquely qualified for the job with a perfect fluency in Japanese and an unstoppable stubbornness that he would stop at nothing to break the Japanese code. The most brilliant mathematical and technical wizardry of the time was used to break this complex code. "
"However, once the code was broken, our military had access to the most secure communications of the Japanese Navy which lead to victory after victory against this impressive military force including their defeat at the battle of Midway. Although little known today, the breaking of JN-25, stands as one of the most important espionage efforts in World War II that led to winning the war of the Pacific and the saving of thousands of American and allied lives."
USS Midway Tactical Radar Screen
Kristyn asked, “So how does it work?”
Don't be alarmed - at first it looks rather overwhelming but it is actually very basic once you know the secret. If you can do simple Addition and Subtraction you can figure this out.
The trick is you don't use normal subtraction, you use "Modular" subtraction. It's easy if you follow the example below.
Example:
| Start with the Encrypted Code Segment: |
43210 |
| Then SUBTRACT the Indicator Key: |
13464 |
| You end up with the Decrypted Code Segment: |
30856 |
Given the "Example" Encrypted Code Segment 43210 you subtract the "Example" Indicator Key (13464) to change the value to the true number. You then look up the "Decrypted" true number in the JN-25 Code Table and find the TEXT Word that is associated with the decrypted number. In this example, the number translates to the word "America".
Here is a step by step breakdown on exactly how to do Modular arithmetic:
1. Treat each column independently.
2. Within each column, if the code number is "Greater Than" or "Equal to" the Indicator number treat it just like normal subtraction.
3. If the code number is "Less Than" the Indicator number simply add +10 to the code number. Then subtract the indicator number just like normal subtraction.
Using the above example, break the 5 digit number down (from left to right) into 5 individual columns:
| Column 1 |
(4-1) = 3, |
4 is "Greater Than" 1, so use normal subtraction: |
(4-1) |
= 3 |
| Column 2 |
(3-3) = 0, |
3 is "Equal to" 3, so use normal subtraction: |
(3-3) |
= 0 |
| Column 3 |
(2-4) = 8, |
2 is "Less Than" 4, so simply add 10, (2 + 10) to make it: |
(12-4) |
= 8 |
| Column 4 |
(1-6) = 5, |
1 is "Less Than" 6, so simply add 10, (1 + 10) to make it: |
(11-6) |
= 5 |
| Column 5 |
(0-4) = 6, |
0 is "Less Than" 4, so simply add 10, (0 + 10) to make it: |
(10-4) |
= 6 |
You end up with the Decrypted Code Segment Answer = 30856
Once you have the resulting 5 digit number you look it up in the code book to get the corresponding word. Congratulations! You have successfully decoded the encrypted number to the correct word "America"!
JN-25 Translation Example
| -- Decrypted Code Segment # -- |
-- Translated to TEXT Word-- |
| 55213 |
Ocean |
| 69489 |
San Diego |
| 30856 |
America |
Looking at the Example: "30856" Translates to the word “America”
Got it? 
Alyx nodded her head and said "A little confusing at first, but actually very easy once you see the concept. If decoding was that basic, why was the code so difficult to break?"
Dad continued "Well the actual code book had tens of thousands of code segment/word combinations and the Indicator Key incremented to the next sequence with each subsequent code group. Thus there were a very large number of potential combinations. In fact I think I might just have a reference in my office library, let me go check for you. Here have a look:"
JN-25 Code Book
Don’t forget there were actually two books, the second book contain hundreds of pages of “Indicator Keys” just like the following. Without the key you could not decode the message.
JN-25 Code Page
While the girls examined the Japanese Navy Military code, Dad quietly slipped out of the room. A few moments later the radio started to beep again:
“Yes! Another message is coming in!” shouted Devyn. This must be the final instructions on exactly where to find the Encrypted Code Segments aboard the ship. 
Where to find Code Segment #1:
-.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / .---- / .. ... / .- / ..... / -.. .. --. .. - / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / .-.. --- -.-. .- - . -.. / --- -. / .- / -- . - .- .-.. / .--. .-.. .- - . / --- -. / - .... . / .-- .- .-.. .-.. / .--- ..- ... - / --- ..- - ... .. -.. . / --- ..-. / -.-. . .-.. .-.. / ...-- / .. -. / - .... . / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- .----. ... / -... .-. .. --. .-.-.- / - .... . / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / .. ... / .--. .-. . -.-. . -.. . -.. / -... -.-- / - .... . / .-.. . - - . .-. ... / -. .-.-.- .-- .-.-.- -.. .-.-.-
Where to find Code Segment #2:
-.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ..--- / .. ... / .-.. --- -.-. .- - . -.. / .. -. / .- -.. -- .. .-. .- .-.. ... / -.-. --- ..- -. - .-. -.-- .-.-.- / --- -. / - .... . / .... .- -. -.. / .-- .-. .. - - . -. / - .- ... -.- / ..-. --- .-. -.-. . / ... - .- - ..- ... / -... --- .- .-. -.. / ..-. .. -. -.. / - .... . / ... .... .. .--. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / -.-. .- .-.. .-.. / ... .. --. -. / .-. . -.. / -.. . ...- .. .-.. .-.-.- / -.-. --- -- -... .. -. . / - .... . / ... .... .. .--. .----. ... / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / -..- -..- -..- / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / ... .... .. .--. .----. ... / .--. ..- / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / -.-- -.-- .-.-.- / -.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ..--- / .. ... / -..- -..- -..- -.-- -.-- .-.-.-
Where to find Code Segment #3:
-.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ...-- / .. ... / .-.. --- -.-. .- - . -.. / .. -. / ... .. -.-. -.- / -... .- -.-- .-.-.- / .. -. ... .. -.. . / - .... . / .- -.-. - ..- .- .-.. / --- .--. . .-. .- - .. -. --. / .-. --- --- -- / - .... . .-. . / .. ... / .- -. / -..- .-. .- -.-- / .... .- -. --. .. -. --. / --- -. / - .... . / .-.. . ..-. - / .-- .- .-.. .-.. / --- ..-. / - .... . / .-. --- --- -- .-.-.- / -.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ...-- / .. ... / - .... . / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / --- -. / - .... . / .-.. --- .-- . .-. / .-. .. --. .... - / -.-. --- .-. -. . .-. / --- ..-. / - .... . / -..- .-. .- -.-- .-.-.-
Where to find Code Segment #4:
-.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ....- / .. ... / .-.. --- -.-. .- - . -.. / .. -. / - .... . / ... .... .. .--. .----. ... / .. -. . .-. - .. .- .-.. / -. .- ...- .. --. .- - .. --- -. / ... -.-- ... - . -- / .-. --- --- -- .-.-.- / --- -. -.-. . / .. -. ... .. -.. . / - .... . / .-. --- --- -- / ..-. .. -. -.. / - .... . / -.. . .- -.. / .-. . -.-. -.- --- -. .. -. --. / .- -. .- .-.. -.-- --.. . .-. / .. -. -.. .. -.-. .- - --- .-. .-.-.- / -.-. --- -.. . / ... . --. -- . -. - / ....- / .. ... / - .... . / ..... / -.. .. --. .. - / .-.. --- -. --. .. - ..- -.. . / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / -.. . --. / -- .. -. / .-- . ... - / -.. .. ... .--. .-.. .- -.-- . -.. / --- -. / - .... . / -.. .. .- .-.. .-.-.-
After you decrypt the encrypted code numbers that you find, use this JN-25 Code Book page to convert the "true" decrypted number to a Text Word:
| - Decrypted - Code # |
Text Word |
- Decrypted - Code # |
Text Word |
- Decrypted - Code # |
Text Word |
| 67890 |
world |
23344 |
Midway |
28272 |
museum |
| 69489 |
San Diego |
98888 |
Island |
33235 |
80 |
| 83334 |
Vietnam |
94847 |
in |
67113 |
Persian Gulf |
| 75677 |
war |
87943 |
41 |
12405 |
Pacific |
| 86496 |
located |
55213 |
ocean |
89897 |
aircraft |
| 04612 |
47 |
12111 |
of |
66460 |
commissioned |
| 94221 |
Desert |
90554 |
decommissioned |
84325 |
1945 |
| 93969 |
magic |
94698 |
1992 |
89877 |
battle |
| 73267 |
year |
34545 |
the |
34565 |
was |
| 99855 |
sailed |
73268 |
North |
73269 |
magnificent |
| 98434 |
built |
88818 |
months |
11181 |
17 |
| 12323 |
to |
59790 |
1991 |
89575 |
historic |
| 89676 |
carried |
34378 |
held |
42894 |
is |
| 21004 |
number |
93275 |
USS |
77693 |
and |
| 79354 |
crew |
74700 |
Storm |
56651 |
Anchor |
You will need one of these JN-25 of “Indicator Keys to decrypt the Code Segments that you find. You must use the correct one.
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 76451 |
33450 |
12624 |
68903 |
55337 |
13290 |
05915 |
10197 |
98252 |
74323 |
For purposes of solving this cache, once you have found the correct number to use (1-10), use the same Indicator Key to "Decrypt" all four code segments. Do not increment the Indicator Key
Where to find the Indicator Key:
- .... . / .. -. -.. .. -.-. .- - --- .-. / -.- . -.-- / .. ... / - .... . / -. ..- -- -... . .-. / --- ..-. / -- .. --. / ... .. .-.. .... --- ..- . - - . ... / .--. .- .. -. - . -.. / --- -. / - .... . / -- .. -.. .-- .- -.-- .----. ... / .. ... .-.. .- -. -.. .-.-.-
Wow! – now we have everything we need – Get Mom!
Let’s Go!
Correctly Decrypted “Text” Message:
| --- Code Segment #1 --- |
--- Code Segment # 2 -- - |
--- Code Segment # 3 --- |
--- Code Segment # 4 --- |
| ? ? ? ? ? |
? ? ? ? ? |
? ? ? ? ? |
? ? ? ? ? |
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If you need any help finding something while on board the Midway, don't hesitant to ask any of the extremely knowledgeable docents that are literally everywhere. Today, a rotating crew of over 800 docent volunteers work on the Midway. They share their expertise and provide visitors with exceptional service. The volunteers educate guests on all aspects of the great ship, and will make your adventure truly magical!
USS Midway Captain's chair
Your visit to the USS Midway does require paid admission. Check online before you go and you will find a variety of discounts via the official Midway website, Costco, or Groupon. Be observant of specific hours of operation and plan to arrive early!
Good Luck!
The DAK Girls
(A special note strictly for code breaking aficionados: the original JN-25 contained a CRC check on the Code Segments and the Indicator Key incremented on each segment. We did not utilize either of those features for this cache)
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
Lbh jvyy arrq n fbyvq srj ubhef gb shyyl rawbl guvf gehr Nzrevpna Gernfher.