BATCO
Encyclopedia
BATCO, short for Battle Code, is a hand-held, paper-based encryption
system used at a low, front line (platoon, troop and section) level in the British Army
during the late Cold War
period.
A BATCO sheet is composed of a double-sided sheet of about A5 that fits in a specially made BATCO wallet, and is used at unit and formation level. Each single side is usually valid for 24 Hours.
In addition to the code card there is:
BATCO is similar to Slidex
but more recent and just about obsolete due to the introduction of secure radio Bowman
. The use of BATCO is still taught to Royal Signals
Communication Systems Operators
as a back-up should secure equipment fail or be unavailable. It is also taught to Army Cadets
and Combined Cadets
as part of the Signal Classification qualification. BATCO documents are classified as "Restricted
" information.
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
system used at a low, front line (platoon, troop and section) level in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the late Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
period.
A BATCO sheet is composed of a double-sided sheet of about A5 that fits in a specially made BATCO wallet, and is used at unit and formation level. Each single side is usually valid for 24 Hours.
In addition to the code card there is:
- Authentication table
- Callsign Indicator chart
- Spelling box
BATCO is similar to Slidex
Slidex
Slidex was a hand-held, paper-based encryption system used at a low, front line level in the British Army during the Cold War period.-External links:* *...
but more recent and just about obsolete due to the introduction of secure radio Bowman
Bowman (communications system)
Bowman is the name of the tactical communications system used by the British Armed Forces.The Bowman C4I system consists of a range of HF radio, VHF radio and UHF radio sets designed to provide secure integrated voice, data services to dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles and command HQs up to...
. The use of BATCO is still taught to Royal Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
Communication Systems Operators
Royal Signals Trades
The Royal Signals Trades are the employment specialisations of the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. Every soldier in the Corps is trained both as a field soldier and a tradesman...
as a back-up should secure equipment fail or be unavailable. It is also taught to Army Cadets
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
and Combined Cadets
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
as part of the Signal Classification qualification. BATCO documents are classified as "Restricted
Classified information in the United Kingdom
Classified information in the United Kingdom, now called Protectively Marked Information, is a system used to protect information from intentional or inadvertent release to unauthorised readers. The system is organised by the Cabinet Office and is implemented throughout central and local government...
" information.