Tap code
Tap code is a rudimentary signaling system for encoding and transmitting alphabetic messages via sequences of taps, typically on cell walls, pipes, or bars, employing a 5×5 grid (Polybius square) that maps 25 letters of the Latin alphabet—usually combining C and K or I and J—to row and column positions, with each letter signaled by the corresponding pair of tap counts separated by a brief pause.[1][2] Introduced to American prisoners of war in North Vietnam in June 1965 by Air Force Captain Carlyle "Smitty" Harris and Navy Lieutenants Phillip Butler, Robert Peel, and Robert Shumaker while confined in Hỏa Lò Prison (the "Hanoi Hilton"), the code enabled isolated inmates to exchange personal messages, intelligence, and directives for resisting interrogations and maintaining military structure.[1] By August 1965, it had proliferated among most POWs despite detection risks, transforming solitary confinement into a network of subtle communication that fostered unity, humor, and defiance against captors' psychological tactics.[1][3] Its adoption underscored the code's ease of memorization and execution—requiring no tools beyond rhythmic tapping—allowing even severely tortured prisoners to participate, with pauses delineating letters and an "X" (5-2 taps) serving as punctuation to structure transmissions.[2]System and Mechanics
The Polybius-Inspired Grid
The tap code utilizes a 5×5 grid, adapted from the ancient Polybius square, to assign each letter of the English alphabet a unique pair of coordinates corresponding to row and column positions. This structure enables encoding by translating letters into sequences of taps, where the first group of taps indicates the row and the second the column, separated by a pause. The grid excludes the letter K—typically represented by C in decoding when needed—to fit 25 letters into the matrix, allowing I and J to occupy distinct positions.[2] The standard arrangement follows alphabetical order in row-major sequence:| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | B | C | D | E |
| 2 | F | G | H | I | J |
| 3 | L | M | N | O | P |
| 4 | Q | R | S | T | U |
| 5 | V | W | X | Y | Z |