Was Laurence Safford instrumental in breaking the Japanese code?

Laurence Safford was not directly involved in breaking the Japanese code. He was a prominent figure in the US Navy's cryptographic efforts, but his primary focus was on breaking German codes, particularly during World War I.

While he was involved in the early stages of the US Navy's codebreaking efforts against Japan, his contribution to this endeavor was not as significant as his role in breaking German codes.

The primary figures credited with breaking the Japanese codes during World War II are:

* Joseph Rochefort - He headed the US Navy's codebreaking unit in Hawaii and played a crucial role in deciphering the Japanese "JN-25" code used by the Imperial Navy.

* Elizebeth Friedman - She was a renowned cryptanalyst who joined the US Navy during World War II and made significant contributions to breaking Japanese codes.

* Frank Rowlett - A key member of the US Navy's codebreaking team, he was instrumental in analyzing and deciphering Japanese communications.

Safford, although a renowned cryptographer, was not part of this team and therefore did not directly contribute to breaking Japanese codes during World War II.