Pauk's corner: sake break for Japanese fanboys

[1275psi]

just had a funny thought on that

Andy really has been complaining how all those night hellcats are a wasted asset, and should be changed to day fighters to refill his pools.

Might need em after all[:D]

[Honda]

Low. But well placed.

[aztez]

It seems that you have an excellent situation in this game.
 
Even mighty Corsairs ain't helping Andy too much! [:D]

[pauk]

PzB, Joe fixed my problem and i can continue game... he is our hero!

About A2A engamements - you are right but do i have a choice?:)... I've decided to go for another round but i'm aware that this could be my graveyard too... all i need is little more time until my TF's came into right position! Let's hope that Praetorians will do their job once again!

Night naval attack - yes, that is one of my favourite tricks and i have one or two Sallys in 90's (we have to hope that Frances should be able to deliver some fishes to enemy CVs)
[;)]

Guys, night naval attack is our wonder weapon but do not expect wonders (logical sentence, eh?[8|]) - we limited night attacks on tactical targets and only one ac group per turn is allowed to be on night attack...

Aztez, it seems so, but once when Andy trains his Corsairs (one Kiwi Kilpatrick or something already have 10 kills) or bring them in numbers i will be doomed. Truth is that my veterans Tony (80) do well against Corsairs (4-10 in their favour), Tojos are slighly better but i can not train so much pilots in short time (and i have to preserve some pilots cause Andy didn't start his bombing campaign yet!)...



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/20/43

Air attack on Kunming again - this time no opposition but enemy suffered bigger casaulties. Andy bring 5 units as reinforcement there:

Allied ground losses:
104 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 53

Corsairs will probably welcome our IJ AF tomorrow, bombing results are not outstanding...


Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 37
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 56
Ki-49 Helen x 20

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
G3M Nell x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 8

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 11

at 6000 feet

Paukashawa-san new, cuning and imperial plan

BB TF will avoid shortest route and try to sneak to 5 hex hidden. Although i don't expect that Andy would wait for me in the ambush with his CVs i do not like sending fast BBs without air cover - so KB will protect them and will remain in PM area (outside the Corsair's range) and intercept enemy convoys, if needed.

I just realised (how stupid I am) that Yamato/Musashi have 12/42 upgrade! Yamato sent to HI, and i'm planing to send Hiryu (or Soryu) to Home islands too once when my first Unryu class CV arrives. Kaga (waiting for upgrade) will replace Akagi - that tempo of upgrades i can affort to myself....

[aztez]

It will take time to train those pilots at Kiwi and Port Moresby is an isolated Allied base. Meaning that you can supress his ac's there with bombers and thus killing a lot of his pilots on the ground.

[Sneer]

are you sure about dividing KB ?
US is in full strenght

[Honda]

ORIGINAL: aztez

It will take time to train those pilots at Kiwi and Port Moresby is an isolated Allied base. Meaning that you can supress his ac's there with bombers and thus killing a lot of his pilots on the ground.

That's what I've been telling him all the time. This is the heyday(meaning?[8|]) for his army bombers. The last action that they can do their original duty successfuly. What good will those bombers do when PM is fully operational. Just firewood for the airfields once the heavies start flying around. If only naval bomberdment could sneak in undetected and Andy decides to send in his airforce to PM, gets trashed on the grounf and then army bombers come in and take out the grounded survivors...hehehe, too many what ifs.
Pauk, it wouldn't be a bad idea to lure Andy into sending planes to PM the turn before naval bombardment by resting the bombers the turn before. That way he may think you gave up on supression and turned defensive. Sneaky.[:D]

[pauk]

Hi guys, glad to see you all here!

Sorry Aztez, i wasn't clear last time - by training i thought A2A combat actually...it is enough that even few Kiwies in Corsairs survive after they achive a kill or more. Just imagine - 4 veteran pilots (75+) survived from each sqdn and reform one veteran sqdn - not even 85+ Tojos couldn't do anything against them.

Then, i'm not an expert but it is obvious that i can not close PM - 4 enemy divisions there + 3 Sea Bees! How fast they can repair (and how much?) Sea bees in one day?

Sneer, I will just replace one or two carriers with two new ones (airgroups from new Unryu class CV will go to training camp and recive air groups from Hiryu while Hiryu will go for R&R in HI). I done that already with Kaga/Taiho (i think WhoCares gives me this most excellent advice!). If i don't upgrade my CVs now i doubt i will have chance to do it latter (yes, yes japanese AA sucks but still....)

Honda, Paukashawa-san already done some changes in Zmukler-go. Don't screaming, [;)], army bombers ordered to rest this turn (my TFs will need few days to get into the position). I guess that Andy will move ac tomorrow to the PM, so lets se if i got it right... It seems that Honda and Aztez are really bloodthirsty guys[:D] but i just cant sacrify 100 85+ exp Army bombers! Besides that, lots of my army bombers are damaged now and out of service. Yes i'm willing to sacrify them but for something bigger than keeping PM "closed" for three days more...

I do have plans for them even in the future: ASW duty, kamikazes, upgrading them to Frances... if i lose them now i will lose war earlier than i would lose with preserving them for these duties, IMHO... and, yes, i do really like my Samurais![:D]




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/43


PNG/SOLOMONS

Since naval LBA refused to attack enemy AE ship at Ndini (What the hell she was doing there?) i send a small DD TF. Enemy AE is heavily damaged but not before one of my DDs recived penetration hit ! (sys damage 20!)...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndini at 72,101

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
AE Pyro, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Still noting... i know how is unpleasent this feeling - waiting for enemy planes each day to intercept your bombers (Andy is familiar with this feeling too - he lost almost 100 bombers in just two raids just because i let him alone for few days.)


Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 25
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 80
Ki-21 Sally x 82
Ki-49 Helen x 17
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
502 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65

at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 11
Ki-49 Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Runway hits 8


Unfortunate Pyro couldn't escape - once when this ships leaves Ndini hex my LBA attacked and sunk this extravagant ship.

Day Air attack on TF at 71,101

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AE Pyro, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage - SINKS!

-----------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-49 Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

CHINA

Ok, we know enemy strength at Kunming. As it was predictable Andy moved 4 fresh units to Kunming. So, what to do? Numbers are not favoring me, but i've decided to try with shock attack! Imperial general Pauk-san hopes that:

- only few Chinese units are capable to fight with full efficienty
- forts aren't to high
- supply problem

But still, probably not going to happend but what the hell, we will find out!

[Sneer]

i did not see possibilty of upgrading to frances
only peggy's
strange isn't it
i'd to see sb to confirm / deny it

[Honda]

It's simple: Sallys are army and Frances are navy. No match. No upgrade. Imagine IJA flying Zeros in '42[&o]

[pauk]

yes Sneer it seems you are right - only Peggy option???[:(]... Frances is level bomber same as Peggy so i do not see reason why shouldn't Sally/Hellen upgrade to Frances?


[&:]

EDIT: Damn, i starting to forget obvious stuff...., thx Honda![X(]

[jumper]

Greetings Pauk,
yes, Sneer is right. You can´t upgrade your army bombers to Frances. Only to Peggy. It is fine torpedo-bomber too. Unfortunately it arrives 10 moths later then Frances. Maybe you might dramaticaly increase its production and try to get a 1-2 mothbs earlier. It worked with J2M Jack if I remember it correctly..

Keep fighting over PM as long as possible. His forces there are like beast in the cage. You can´t walk in - they would eat you alive, but they can´t get out either. I know you are losing crack pilots over there, but exchange ratio is still good enough..
Btw what will you do with that division in Gili-Gili? Maybe you shoud evacuate it. If I were him, I wouldn´t bother with Gili-Gili once PM is fully operational. I would bypass it, conquer Kiriniwa and Goodenough Island and build AF there.
Hey, it´s nomen omen [:)] Goodenough Island really seems good enough..
Only some of my thoughts..

good luck!!!

[pauk]

Hi, Jumper it has been a while since i heard from you. Perhaps you were on holidays in Croatia?
That was my first thought - evacuate GG but then i realised this base will be a thorn in Andy's eyes. As long as he have only PM in PNG, GG have enormous strategic value for both sides. I know, he can bomb GG and decimate my division there but it is better for me that he is bombing GG than Rabaul. I don't think he can affort himself just to bypass GG and capture nearby basses - they are in range of my BBs and i would pin him down for a couple of months if he tries that (i can counter attack him with 3 divisions which i have at Truk)... but, you are right i must not allow that this division is cut off and lost.

Lots of intersting stuff today. Unfortunatly i don't know how to host images and can't attach two pics in the same post so i have to make two posts. But, i assure you, all JFB will enjoy, even some "honest" AFB [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/22/43

CHINA

As you know, general Pauk-san decides to try his luck at Kunming. He asked for air support but bombers refused to fly against ground targets at Kunming (phew, once again!). Kweiyang airfield was operational and two Tojo Sentais took off and meet enemy at Kunming skies (i guess leaking CAP again). Once again my air force was victorious - these two airgroups werent crack ones - 70 and 72 exp (mix of crack, veteran and recruit pilots). He,he, Andy was expected a better turn for him today, but, latter....






Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 65
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 16
P-38G Lightning x 13
I-153c x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 11 destroyed
I-153c: 7 destroyed

It seems that Pauk-san is still in great shape. His judgement proves exellent, once again.

Ground combat at Kunming

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 183468 troops, 1627 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 3156

Defending force 87904 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2245

Japanese max assault: 5950 - adjusted assault: 1717

Allied max defense: 2187 - adjusted defense: 693

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
7949 casualties reported
Guns lost 128
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
3750 casualties reported

Now, the question is to continue with attack or not? All my units have quite a big disruption (from 55-75) but the enemy should be disrupted as well. My losses were big but i lost "only" 400 assault points. But, you never know with numbers and statistics in the ground combat - a common opinion is that with 2-1 or greater odds your losses are mostly disrupted squads while the enemy casaulties means dead soldiers. But after comparing ground loses i'm not sure about it. I lost troops worth 12 VP while the enemy lost only 7. I know that Japan soldiers "worth" more than their Chinese counterpart but still... well, who knows?

I've made a stupid mistake earlier and canceled movement of most units 60 miles south of Yunan. Don't ask me why, i can't explain it! Only SNLF arrives at Yunan and it was repulsed by enemy garnison. The question is will they arrive on time to help Kunming defence? As you may see a lot of support troops in Yunan - he is serious and he want expand AF and close my training program!


Ground combat at Yunan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 26575 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 800

Defending force 642 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Allied max assault: 1452 - adjusted assault: 1072

Japanese max defense: 13 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1072 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
414 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


Ah...i did it (2nd pic in post)!





MORE TO COME..

[aztez]

Ok. That explains it! [;)] ...but I still agree with Honda. If you bomb PM to stoneage than you have put Andy into difficult position. He has to move some inexperienced pilots to defend it and I doubt he likes that idea. Also the game date favours you now. I mean if you don't bomb him than he will bomb you soon. That results to you bombers destroyed on the ground instead of his.
 
The good thing for you is that you have multiple airfields in the region. Andy has just one.

[pauk]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/22/43

PNG

Fast transport overrun my sub...

ASW attack at 51,96

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 6, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Rathburne
DD Kilty
DD Crane

Not more action there but this makes it more fun [:D]. This is what Andy sent me:

Time to roll the dice once more..... Lets see how many pilots I can kill
today !!!

He was expecting another PM run - but hey (Speedy) this is what makes me best player on the world[:D]...My planes were resting and now Andy probably cursing me[;)] - he wasn't expected almost 3-1 ratio in my favor..thanks to China to be honest.. but still hehe

I responded to him that he is predictable





Don't let be fooled with small numers on CAP - one of most powerful advantages for the Allies is radar - i'm sure (as i was leared that on hard way in China) that i would met 100 fighers if i go for offensive....was it worth to send all my fighers on sweep? i guess we will never know (let someone else try that)



Now, here is situation. Lots of choices and lots of opportunity. I do not fear of enemy LBA (I'm not sure that he have them a lot at NE Australia) but problem could be enemy CVs. I do not know where are they and i would feel more safe that my carrier divisions are in same hex and my CVE TF is not behind them... i must plan carefully and well judge situation: do i need to send my carrier divisions as it shown at map, or it is better to move closer sneakily... whatever i do, some operations are already approved: CA division bombardment strike followed next turn with fast BBs...

[jumper]

Hi,
yes, i was on holidays, but not in Croatia. I´ve spent two weeks traveling all around Czech rep, visiting castles, military museums and other places I like so much.. And as I´m evil person I forced my girlfriend to accompany me.. [:D] Military museums are not exactly her cup of tea, but on the other hand, she took me several times under the point of the gun to some fashion shows..[;)] And THAT was really terrible..

Once PM is reopened, GG will be trap for that division. And I don´t think he will bomb the division in GG instead of Rabaul. There is no reason for it. That division can only sit there and suffer from malaria. You coud divide the division and evacuate 1/3-2/3 now. Still you will have decent forces there, so he won´t be able to get GG with a just a few RCTs and you can use released forces elsewhere.
btw that convoy heading to PM might be transporting some new PTs there..
In Kunming I think you should spend 1-2 by bombarding, if your supply situation is good, till your disruption levels decrease little bit..

I really like your style of AAR.. One of the best I´ve seen.. I like those interesting details about xp levels etc..

BTW long time ago there was an allied AAR, written by Thayne. That was a masterpiece. More like an alternate history book then AAR. As someone posted there: "if it would be a book, I would buy it". I´m just curios if someone remembers it.. [;)]

[pauk]

Yeah, I know that experience with fashion show/shops too[:(]. I've already divided division and ready to evacuate this unit - but as long as i have KB in the area invasion is out of the question. You may say that i'm meticulous - and you are probably right[:D] - but keeping this unit at GG will force Andy to plan invasion carefully. Which means he will set preparation for GG at least to two division. Quite a lot players forgeting about preparation points but this could be an edge between 2-1 and 0-1. All i need is well judging when i really must evacuate 5th division from GG and avoiding trap. As for his TF this were combat ships (DDs) so no PTs yet.

Thanks for compliments - i was always interested in these details and i pay attention to them. Since my english sucks, this details are only hope that other players can learn something about the game (yes, rather than keeping secret for myself and bitching about bad design i'm ready to share my knowledge with JFB - although i keep some tricks just for myself. I'm good, but not THAT good[:D])

I've prepared more details for you but lots of action prevents me to post it....

Yes, Thayne was one of my favourites too.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/43


CHINA

Andy is pretty scared with Konichiwa-go and sent bombers on targets in China.


Night Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 7000 feet

My Samurai's are not willing to surrender just because they met few Corsairs! Banzai! Suprisingly, AVG scored two or three kills which means his Corsairs were defeat in A2A. Eight Corsairs for 8 Tojos and one Tony aren't bad trade!


Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 52
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 72
Ki-21 Sally x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 59
Ki-46-III Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 13
P-38G Lightning x 6
I-153c x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 8 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 6 destroyed
I-153c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 54

at 6000 feet

B-17 visited Kweiyang during day phase - i'm more than sure he is glad when i've said him "no, you can attack with heavies my bases in China" few months ago. He was generous and offer me "no heavies will attack targets in China" after i accept house roule no attack on Chengtu and Chungking. But i felt it would't be fair to restrict him from doing that. One Tony Sentai is set at 50 % CAP.


Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 7000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 7000 feet

And, that wasn't all. I do not know if i pissed him when i said "you are predictable"[;)] or he is just scared about Kunming and he run into mistakes. But, honestly, i don't care for that[;)]

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 94

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 7 destroyed
Boomerang II: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33
at 6000 feet

Quite a lot destroyed planes on the ground - this time AF wasn't operational and he paid for gambling. Second air strike was worse, my LBA have less experienced crew and attacked at higher attitude...

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 28
Ki-49 Helen x 36
Ki-46-III Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang II: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17

at 12000 feet

I can expect more 4E bombers tomorrow - if Kunming falls it will cause a collapse of Chinese theatre. But the funny thing is that my bombers can not attack his ground units while he can do it! (rule says that bombers have smaller chance to attack enemy ground units if they are in same hex with friendly units) - i smell another anti-Jap conspiracy![:'(]


Day Air attack on 22nd Division, at 39,33


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 8
IL-4c x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

at 7000 feet

General Pauk decided to rest his troops because our recon says no reinforcements available for Kunming defenders in next three days... Well, i have better leaders and my troops should rest faster than enemy. But, i'm not pretending that i'm ground combat guru...

Ground combat at Kunming

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12757 troops, 128 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2711

Defending force 81645 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2063


PACIFIC/PNG





KB wasnt spoted today so he doesn't know I'm so close to him. My plan is to move closer (6 hex) to PM and send DD division to deal with 2 remaining PTs and CA division to bombard PM. After that, fast BB will finish the job (i hope). Yes i'm risking KB pilots if he move Liberators to PM (he have Lightings in PM too) but i do not want to have another fight with Corsairs! Lets see who did better plans!

Grrrr.... i run out of the luck with PT boats. Enemy was suprised but only 2 DDs opens fire on enemy (aggresive commander!)while PTs fired just two torps - 50 % rate! Minekaze class DD probably is not going to make it....


Night Time Surface Combat, near Nauru Island at 79,91

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Mutsuki
DD Hakaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yakaze
DD Kuri
DD Manazuru

Allied Ships
PT PT-146
PT PT-147, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
PT PT-148
PT PT-149
PT PT-150
PT PT-151, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-152
PT PT-153
PT PT-154
PT PT-155
PT PT-156
PT PT-157

DD Kuri didn't get any exp point (66/71) while Yakaze is awarded with one and now is 74/75.

BURMA

Nice way to train his pilots - keep it on, Andy



Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang II: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged [:D]

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Boomerang II bombing at 2000 feet

[aztez]

I miss the Thayne AAR's too. I wonder what happened to him? He did start an PBEM too if I remember correctly.
 
It seems that Port Moresby will be a graveyard for allied ac's and troops soon. Andy got too ambitious too soon.

[PzB74]

Me thinks tomorrow will be bloody with all those Allied ac at PM... [&o]

I think Pauk's English has improved quite a bit, AAR style is also excellent! [8D]
It's difficult to manage to update an AAR for 4 years, have anyone done it yet? Don't think so!

[veji1]

yep, if bombardment TFs don't go through... ouch... The "fine fleur" of the IJAAF will be gone...