Two IJA Divisions plus Artillery are moving on Dimapur. I have no idea how the 2.5 Chinese divisions and the 1 Indian Division there will do. They are behind level 4 forts and in the Jungle. Supplies currently are 7 times the required amount.
3 UK units failed in their attack on the IJA force north of Dacca. My hope is that once recovered from the shock attack across the river, they will be able to once again press their attack.
A small bombardment fleet is going to make its way up the coast of India to hit IJA forces at Diamond Harbor. THis is an effort to grab the KBs attention.
I am moving my squadron of Coranodos to Tricom in an effort to better recon the Bay of Bengal.
The RN in India is making a sortie into the Indian ocean to try and engage a very small Carrier force blockading reinforcements from India.
Java is a problem. The Allies have reinforcements gathering at Perth, but not enough air suppiriority to get them into Java. With the fall of Bataan I expect up to 2 more IJA Divisions to show up in Java in two weeks.
I am unloading the 1st Timor garrison at Tjilitjap now. They will reinforce Batavia to confront attacks from Merak. I have the 12th Australian Bde (from Hobart) approaching Perth, where they will reorganize into a rapid disembarcation (sp?) TF for transport to either Tjilitjap or Batavia. Also, I have 24 palnes belonging to the 6th FS (originally from the PI) which has been outfitted with P-39s on their way to Batavia. The dutch can only fielf about 1 squadron of planes and they are flown mostly by recruits.
Finally, the Lexington and Saratoga left Perth 3 days ago to take station several hundred miles west of Java. Their mission now will be to intercept any invasion fleet aiming for Tjilitjap. There are over 100 Bettys flying from Borneo. It is critical that IJN be denied any other AF on Java. This means holding Batavia and Tjilitjap along with Sorebaja. Thankfully, I still have tremendous recon ability around Java. I hope to spot invasion forces loading well before they leave port.
Finally, a very important battel is about to take place near Homan. 1000AP (about half supplied) are going to attack IJA troops blocking the road to Homan. The goal is to reopen the road and get an additional 2 corps to reinforce Homan. They will be facing an estimated 34,000 troops, or about 2-3 Bdes.
As a backup I have 2 corp marching overland from near Ichang to Homan, but their progress has been very slow.
Looks like no turn from Graycompany today, so its a chance to catch up on other games. I also thought it would be interesting to post a map of all the Allied commands and their areas of responsibility. Note there is a legend on the right side of the map
I am trying to approach this game with some level of realism. THerefore, each command must respect its area of responsibilty, which means:
1. Geographic regions must be defended before going on the offensive
2. Massive numbers of units from one command may not operate in areas under another command without paying the PP cost. Exceptions to this will be made in emergency situations, or on very small scales.
My intention is to redo this map every three months game time to display the changes in the command responsibilities as the war progresses. For instance, South Pac has a major role to play at the moment in securing the lines of supply to OZ. However, as the game progresses this command will deminish in importance as I intend never to invade the Solomons if possible. Southwest Pac on the otherhand is going to play a major role in the war as it will provide the force for the major operations I plan for the attack up through Timor, North NG and Celebes to PI.
This is also a tool to help me evaluate what resources will be needed to assign for each command. Some commands, like Centpac will need lots of base forces and lots of engineers for the many island bases it will have to develop. Some of these may transfer over from South Pac later in the war. I also divide my fleet ships according to commands. South Pac will recieve a large number of Flush Deck DD for ASW patrol. While Southwest Pac will receive more CL for surface raid missions which will be more common around the DEI. CentPac and Southeast Asia will get more B-17s, while Southwest Pac will get more medium range B-25 and B-26 bombers.
I apologize for the crude map. It was done using MS Paint. If anyone has any suggestions for freeware draw or image programs I would love to hear them.
Thoughts anyone on the command structure? Pretty hisorical I think, with the exception of my plans to bypass the Solomons.
Game turns are going slowly and from here on out I will try and update the AAR when there is a break and something is really happening. In the meantime, I noticed something about my subs, they're almost all damaged. They have been on constant anti-troop transport patrol and running sub-transport missions. Here's a summary of sub status.
Yep, a lot of them are at port and will be until Sys damage is down to 7. I would normally say that sys damage must be below 3, but that will have too many subs out of action for too long.
Most of the subs at about 20% sys damage actaully have never been damaged in combat. It is simply operational damage from full time operation for four months straight.
Combat Action Report
Pacific Theater
12 March, 1942 through 21 March 1942
Theater assessment
The enemy is pushing hard throughout the Southeast Asia Theater and the Southern Resource Area. They have allied forces under siege at Dimapur India, on the Isle of Java and reports are that the enemy has recently begun operations on the last of our forces in the Southern Philippines. Chinese forces are under heavy pressure as the city of Homan, currently defended by Chinese corp. is set to fall. So far efforts to relieve the surrounded city have proven unsuccessful. US forces continue their operations to shore up supply lines to Australia. Japanese forces have recently made raids against our base at Luganville, but intelligence does not anticipate any major Japanese offensives in this area.
Operation Rapier: the capture of Wake island is under preparation at Pearl.
Operation Castle: the reinforcement of Java by units from Southwest Pacific command is underway. The first unit, the 13 DAF Base Force has just arrived at Tjilitjap.
Operation Pickle Barrel: the Army Air Corps anti-shipping operation on Java has been a huge success. With several hundred sorties by B-17s from the 5th and 7th BG, Hudsons from the No.2 RAAF Sqdn and Martins from the Dutch No.6 bomber group have severely damaged Japanese shipping around Java.
Ship type # Ships hit Total # hits
BB 1 2
AK 6 7
ML 1 1
PC 1 1
PG 2 3
AP 18 30
The Japanese response has been a heavy bombing campaign against our bases at Sorebaja, Batavia, Palmenbang. So far, Tjilitjap has been spared. Though airfields are heavily damaged, bombing does continue.
Combat Summary Reports for 12 March 1942 Through 21 March 1942.
REPORTS FOR 03/12/42
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 33,23
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 20
Hudson I x 7
B-17E Fortress x 11
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Aircraft Attacking:
bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbor at 28,23
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
Hurricane II x 3
Vildebeest IV x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
MSW Hinode Maru #18
MSW Musashi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Japanese Ships
AP Haaburu Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire
Allied Ships
SS Nautilus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kragen at 22,63
Japanese Ships
MSW W.18
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 9, on fire
PG Kiso Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Myoken Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Belgium Maru
AK Bordeaux Maru
AK Brazil Maru
AK Glasgow Maru
Allied Ships
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 82,63 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
CL Helena, Shell hits 2
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 2
CA New Orleans
CA Northampton
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 2
Japanese ground losses:
307 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese forces land at Pomala
TF 232 troops unloading over beach at Pomala, 32,69
Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Siege of Homan
Ground combat at Homan
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 173012 troops, 1392 guns, 6 vehicles
Defending force 79164 troops, 267 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Japanese ground losses:
2532 casualties reported
Guns lost 94
Vehicles lost 2
Allied ground losses:
1129 casualties reported
Guns lost 34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Dimapur
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 78264 troops, 848 guns, 23 vehicles
Defending force 21966 troops, 130 guns, 7 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 2
Allied ground losses:
589 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese force try to break through siege of Homan
Ground combat at 48,30
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 53165 troops, 287 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 27491 troops, 289 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Guns lost 25
Allied ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/14/42
Japanese forces try tactical bombing of Chinese forces to weaken resistance
Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30
Day Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbor at 28,23
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13
Hurricane II x 5
Vildebeest IV x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
MSW Hinode Maru #18, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Kaiyo Maru #1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 33,23
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16
Hudson I x 7
B-17E Fortress x 15
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 164169 troops, 1250 guns, 5 vehicles
Defending force 76990 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
1504 casualties reported
Guns lost 66
Allied ground losses:
1305 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,29
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 14157 troops, 155 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 9412 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pomala
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 664 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 1084 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
REPORTS FOR 03/16/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Macassar, 30,69, firing at TF 122
TF 122 troops unloading over beach at Macassar, 30,69
2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Manazuru
Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbor at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Vildebeest IV x 10
Hudson I x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Kokuryu Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AP Yoshida Maru #3
AP Tatsuho Maru
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 7000 feet
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbor at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 3
Vildebeest IV x 9
P-40B Tomahawk x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
AP Kokuryu Maru
AP Yoshida Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Akitsu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese paratroopers take the town of Benares, approximately 200 miles southeast of Lucknow
Ground combat at Benares
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 461 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Benares base !!!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/17/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kragen at 22,63
Japanese Ships
MSW Himejima Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Hakata Maru #7
Allied Ships
SS S-39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japaense forces try again to bomb Calcutta, but a thwarted by strong allied fighter presence. Estimated “Zeros” killed since the beginning of February are more than 100.
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 60
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 30
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 31
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British forces near Dacca defeated and forced to retreat to Calcutta
Ground combat at 30,23
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 17304 troops, 106 guns, 286 vehicles
Defending force 11573 troops, 65 guns, 272 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
219 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 8
Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/18/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Luganville at 72,107
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Mutsu
BB Fuso
CA Chokai
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
Allied Ships
PG Swan, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
AVD William B. Preston, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
MSW Launceton, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AK Surigao, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Luganville, at 72,107
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Nachi
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
BB Fuso
BB Mutsu
BB Kirishima
Allied ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Gasmata, at 59,90
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 14000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bombardment TF headed for Diamond Harbor is attacked near Madras by the main Japanese carrier force. Ramilles and Dauntless are lost. Emarald sustained moderate damage.
Day Air attack on TF at 21,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A Val x 46
B5N Kate x 48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Iloilo, 42,56, firing at TF 148
TF 148 troops unloading over beach at Iloilo, 42,56
43 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Chidori
Japanese ground losses:
459 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Iloilo, 42,56, firing at TF 148
TF 148 troops unloading over beach at Iloilo, 42,56
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Chidori
Japanese ground losses:
462 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kragen at 22,63
Japanese Ships
MSW Hakata Maru #7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
H6K4 Mavis x 4
Ki-49 Helen x 74
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 8000 feet
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 8000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 8000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 61
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 14000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 21,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A Val x 46
B5N Kate x 48
Finally, after work delays and technical difficulties the game is back on.
The Date is March 25th, 1942.
Operational update:
Operation Rapier (Wake Is capture) is still in the organization phase. 3 CVs were dispatched to raid Baker Is, but after coming within 2 hexes of it, the planes failed to launch, probably bad weather.[:@] The TF was sighted by the Japanese though, so mission accomplished. I will now keep Baker under heavy recon so hopefully Japanese attention will remain focused there.
Update on Operation Caste (Defense of Java): Ongoing
Update on Operation Pickle Barrel (Attack by allied LB on Japanese shipping in the Java se): Halted
The situation is looking grim. The Japanese have finally managed to put together nearly an overwhelming force to attack Sorebaja. I say nearly because the brave Dutch defenders are still getting 0:1 odds and are still standing behind size 4 forts.
However, the Japanese have total Air superiority over Java and have severaly damaged the 4 size 4 AF I had in the area, forcing me to withdraw. I am still flying a sqdrn of Hudsons out of Macassar.
That is the bad news. The good news is that I think my opponent has made a HUGE strategic error and if possible I intend to make him pay. Because he choose to attack India in February and commit about 6 divisions, rather than secure the oil fields on Java and at Palembang, the DEI are still standing at the end of March. IF and I mean IF Java is still holding at the end of April I think the allies can keep control of it throughout the war and deny the Japanese the oil.
The dutch forces at Sorebaja probably can only hold another week (fingers crossed). However, the Aus 12th cavarly lands at Tjilitjap in two days and the 102 USA RCT will be about 3-4 days behind that. Their mission will be to move (sprint) south, clear the road to sorebaja and reinforce the garrison there. With those reinforcements I think they can hold out indefinitely. Intelligence believes that there are 2 NLF para units and a BF holding a base in between. Is this doable? Can Sorebaja hold until then?
It would appear that MOST of the IJA air power is now in the Java sea area. This is good and bad. They are pounding the Dutch airfields, but it takes most of their effort to keep the airfields closed. This means ships can still get to Tjilitjap with troops and supplies. It also means they aren't in India pounding UK defenders. There are still large groups of Nells unaccounted for.
Intelligence also believes that reinforcements from the siege of bataan are now entering the Java sea. This may include 1-2 more Japanese divisions. The allies could counter this force with reinforcements of their own in the form of the 30th Aus bde and the 7th Aus Div, both nearing Perth. Also, the US has 2 carriers holding just off Java that could try and intercept Japanese reinforcements. However, even if I pick the right TF to attack, all his Bettys will switch to Naval Attack missions and not only could get at my carriers, but also could attack my transport TFs arriving at Tjilitjap, which would be a disaster! So, do I try and catch a reinforcement TF with my CVs, or do I hold them in reserve longer?
Operation Dog Door (capture and establishment of Koepang as a support base) is still at least a week away from launching. I have been trying to quietly assemble a small invasion force at Derby consisting of 1 Aus Cav Bde and 2 Dutch BF that will take Koepang, which for some inexplicable reason is not garrisoned or used the the Japanese. This base will become a small, but vital support base for getting supplies, troops and most importantly fighter planes to Java.
Operation GSTQ [God Save the Queen] (Defense of India)
Things are also not going well in India. [:(]
Dimapur has fallen after only about a 3 week siege - I thought I could hold out another 3 weeks or so. The Imperialist Japanese forces overan the hodge podge group of Chinese and UK defenders forcing them into the wilderness to the north. [:(][:(]
I still don't have a coherent strategy for Indias defense. I do not want to give up Calcutta as my position there is strong, but I fear I can't keep it from being surrounded and cut off. I also can't concieve of when the UK will have enough forces to counter attack, another year perhaps. Also, the Burmese army has finally made it to Impahl. This should take the Japanese some time to deal with as it will mean having to root them out in another siege. I am considering pulling my forces at Ansonal back to Lucknow. There they can link up with elements of the 2nd UK Div which is guarding the road from Karachi to Dehli and Lucknow. Thoughts about that? Is this a wise idea. It will mean completely cutting of Calcutta.
What forces do you have in India "IF" you lose Calcutta and the forces there?? It looks like you will not have any retreat route if your forces are pushed out of the hex north of Calcutta. He could take Calcutta and Asansol, regroup, wipe out the by passed units and then take the rest of India. Or just let them wither on the vine...[:(]
Any house rules to prevent him pulling a PzB and taking all of India??
Any way to get a few cadres out of this "mess" and back to Karachi via transports??
May need a more "Russian mind set" and trade space for time. But, try to minimize the loss of whole LCU's. IMO, save a cadre from your major units to be able to fight another day, when possible. If you have to, send your by passed LCU's towards Tibet and have them go north to eventually join up...in '43[&:]
Calcutta is in a good situation in terms of forts (8 almost 9) and supplies (51,000). Also, airspace over calcutta belongs to the Allies. He has lost 100 zeros in the area over the last 6 weeks and doesn't even try to bomb it anymore. If he attacks, it will be a long drawn out siege. If he knocks down a fort I can put it back up in about a week.
Question is, do I have enough forces to withstand an all out attack. AV of 663 and getting better (2 Indian Bdes still rebuilding) x 4 for urban terrain x size 9 forts. [&:]
My forces at Ansonal, which will soon include the 255th Ind Tank Bde. If I pull back to Lucknow, I can't allow the forces to be flanked. It might result in a retreat all the way to Karachi. If I do though I can add the 2nd UK division to these forces.
Whats left of my Burma army. Add to this the 1st and 2nd Burma Rifles at Kohima (They just took it from Japan looking for supply).
I am considering moving the army out of Impahl (undefendable) into the hex to the, I think it is NW. From there it can threaten multiple areas and will force him to garrison the area, or make him use up his divisions coming after me. Calcutta can be a supply relay station.
ny59giants, no house rules about attacking the rest of India except that if he takes Bombay and Karachi he has some complicated garrison requirements he has to maintain.
OK, so much for leaving Calcutta...and Asansol. He cannot by pass them and leave them alone. Calcutta will not fall with a simple seige at the level of forts and amount of assault value you have. This battle area will turn into move and counter move by each of you.
I see the keys being you able to keep Calcutta supplied and not surrounded; local air superiority (if you get to 6/42 and the arrival of Spitfires [:D]); maitain pressure in Java to keep him off balance. This may be a good AAR of how not to split your forces too soon as the Japanese. This is land combat where the Allies have a more effective fighting force than the Chinese does.
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