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Hi all,

The follow up on Kendari did not go that well. I assume Faber LRCAPed it from Macassar. My 151 Heavies found 63 enemy fighters on CAP which show down 31 Heavies for the loss of 10. A further 30 planes were destroyed on the ground. Faber lost 45 to my 34 for the day.

No matter. We rest now and when Lautem is big enough Heavies will be flying to Kendari with escort...........

Talking of Lautem. It appears the enemy SC TF has moved back to Macassar. As such my convoy will move back to Lautem to unload the remaining Engineer Vehicles and supply.

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Usual bombing by me in Burma and the Marshalls.

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All CV's should be at Midway tomorrow. We then refuel, rearm and move out west of Wake to scout.

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No subs attacks today.

Air sightings = 16
Air attacks = 3

Very strange in some ways. Some places like Brunei do NOY appear to have any convoys heading to them. I have subs surrounding the place and they are nto spotted by air and NO convoys have been seen for about 2 months. Maybe it's a lack of shipping or maybe I truly have missed them for 2 months?

7 x Fleet boats left Midway today for an operation of the south of Japan.

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2 x AK and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

Hi all,

Christmas day 1943!

With it brings the usual areas of action in the war. The complete absence of Japanese offense in Burma contrasted by the daily massive land and air bombardment by the Allies.

Slowly but surely the Allies are recovering lost ground. IMO Timor is almost totally secure now. Due to me already in effect gaining Air Superiority the area is fairly quiet whilst Lautem is reinforced and built up. Today the convoy arrived again and all Engineering Vehicles are ashore and working on the airfields. A second runway has been laid and a Vengeance Squadron has flown in from Darwin. This provides anti-shipping capability in the area.

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All CV's are back at Midway now and are refuelling and re-arming today.

Just so you know DD Bennett and CA Australia are both fine and are moving back to PH for longer term repairs.

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SS Billfish performed well again today when she damaged the troop laden AP Genkai Maru with 2 torpeodes 60 miles SW of Saigon.

SS Narwhal hit AP Kumakawa Maru with duds[:-] 360 miles NW of Saipan.

SS Bang was hunted unsuccessfully by 6 escorts 240 miles SE of Guam.

Air sightings = 16
Air attacks = 3

Hi all,

Well well not just the Merchant Navy but the Military Navy received a blow from Allied Submarines today:

SS Sargo, patrolling 120 miles south of Banjarmasin, located a SC TF heading NW. She managed to get into position and hit CL Naka with a torpedo. A massive explosion left the ship dead in the water and heavily damaged. Sargo will try to track the TF 120 miles further NW before returning to her patrol area.

SS Puffer located one of the illusive TK's! She put a torpedo into the oil laden hull of TK Manju Maru 180 miles ESE of Shanghai. She wasn't reported heavily damaged though. Puffer evaded the escorts and will relocate.

SS Bang was hunted again by 5 x DD. She escaped with minor damage and will relocate again.

Air sightings = 23
Air attacks = 3
Air hits = 1. SS Clyde newly on station in the Malacca Strait. Returning to Columbo heavily damaged (54/60/0).

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The CV's and BB's left Midway today to head for the Wake area again. The fleet CV's will move well west of Wake to scout for enemy shipping before returning to bomb Wake.

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This baby arrives tomorrow[8D]

Hi all,

Today was a big day in the SEAC theatre.........although Faber has not seen it the British fleet formed up in the evening of the 27th to leave Columbo for Trincomalee before reforming into TF's and heading towards the enemy...........I will post TF composition and destination in the near future........in the meantime Mossie PR's fly recon from Akyab to all bases within range....................the good news is my target base has little defences it appears[:)]

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Operation Peregrine Falcon continues with CV and CVE's bombing Wake as planned. This is important since I want Faber to think my CV's are to stay on station as before. The pilots have now been ordered for Naval Strike in the hope of finding enemy shipping 100's of miles west of Wake.........the CVe's and BB's stay on station to smash Wake further....sit rep below.

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SS Raton achieved a kill today. She encountered 2 convoys today! The first slipped by whilst she evaded ASW vessels. The 2nd was not so fortunate as the empty transport Koyo Maru wias hit by 2 torpeodes and probably sank.

Air sightings = 16
Air attacks = 3

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More supply ashore at Lautem. 50% of a new runway has been constructed.

An RCT and Tank Rgt are preparing in Darwin for Koepang. 1 enemy unit remains there according to intel.

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BB New Jersey will remain in San Francisco for Iowa to show up in 3 weeks time. No rush for these boys yet. The main fights are still to come I feel.

3 x AK, a DD and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

Hi all,

Woah what a day and a surprise. North Carolina, Washington, Alabama and Co. reached Wake and found enemy SHIPS there! I was not expecting that.

Radar picked up 5 small blips which turned out to be a DesRon. They were ecnountered head on and DD Takanami was blown to bits before they retired. DD Jenkins received 1 x 5" shell hit and DMS Hovey received 8 CD fire hits. DD Fullam hit a mine but other than that all is ok. DMS Hovey will probably sink.

Then as they approached Wake 5 more blips were detected! These turned out to be 5 x AP which were trapped between Wake and my ships. With no protection they were all sank with ease.

My force then shelled Wake before retiring causing 250 casualties.

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During the day though the remaining 4 x IJN DD's were detected by Floatplanes and amssive strike from my CV's wiped them from the face of the sea. It would have been total carnage down there. DD's: Akigumo, Kuroshio, Hamakaze and Shiratsuyu all sank by 3PM.

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My Submarines also had a good day.

SS Paddle was lightly damaged by escort vessels 420 miles NW of Tinian.

SS Silversides had a good day in hitting 2 Tankers from the same convoy! In the lat hours of morning she damaged Yamamizu Maru with a torpedo and then in the afternoon she heavily damaged Kyokuto Maru with 2 torpeodes. The escorts failed to find her. This took place 180 miles ESE of Batan Island.

SS Mingo hopefully sunk ML Shirakami with a torpedo 60 miles east of Batavia.

SS Tuna probably sank the troop laden AP Shoan Maru with 2 torpedoes 360 miles NW of Taytay.

SS Bluefish finished off the damaged AP Koyo Maru with a torpedo 360 miles WNW of Saipan.

SS Narwhal evaded convoy escorts 480 miles NW of Tinian.

Air sightings = 15
Air attacks = 2

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Air raids on Tarawa, Maloelap, Kwajalien and Wake but bad wather prevented any in Burma.

All merchant and military vessels, tasked for for Operation Buzzard, will be at Trincomalee tomorrow. We refuel and re-organise and then we set off..........

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An AK, TK and LCI arrive in theatre tomorrow.

ah, i would like to see our battle - ASW vs subs.

I guess that subs efficiency rapidly increases after radar upgrade? (when this happens?)

Also, can you post hits/damage for your subs (ex: SS Speedyawfulplayer: non direct hits 2, direct hits 0/ damage)? IM experience few near misses can damage Japanese subs significantly...

Hi all,

Hi Pauk - Yes after Radar upgrade (October 1942 for most boats except S-Boats which upgrade April 1943) but also after 1942 when torpeodes become more effective. The combination of the 2 with more experienced crew lead to better results.

Sub attacks - sure can Pauk. Will do from now on.

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Mines are annoying I must say. With CD guns overlooking them there is very little you can do to negate damage except pound the place from the air first. 2 x BB Divisions shelled Wake during the night and BB Nevada, DD Converse and DD Waller hit a mine each. Only Converse is seriously damaged (57/36/17). BB Nevada was hardly scratched.

The shelling caused 500+ casualties, 17 guns and 5 supply hits.

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My 4 x CV Divisions continue west past Wake but have found nothing as yet. Enemey search planes located them so I do not expect to find much. We continue moving west though.

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No sub attacks today.

Air sightings = 17
Air attacks = 1
Air hits = 1 - SS Aspro (8/15/0). Staying on station near the Mariana's.

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Operation Buzzard will be launched tomorrow!

Once at sea I will disclose the location for invasion and land units but here's the OOB of the ships:

TF1098 - CV Victorious, CV Illustrious, CV Formidable + 6 x CLAA + 9 x DD
TF1104 - BB Valiant, BB Royal Sovereign, BB Ramilles + 2 x CA + 3 x CL + 8 x DD
TF1107 - BB Warspite, BB Revenge, BB Resolution + 2 x CA + 3 x CL + 8 x DD

TF1042 - main invasion and supply convoy - CVE Battler + 3 x Cruiser + 3 x DD + 5 x MSW + 3 x PG + 67 x AK, AP, TK etc
TF1154 - secondary invasion force - 3 x Cruiser + 3 x DD + 5 x MSW + 3 x PG + 37 Cargo ships
TF1044 - support forces - 3 x PG + 25 Cargo ships

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2 x SS, an AK and LCI arrive in theatre tomorrow

ORIGINAL: Speedy


Mines are annoying I must say. With CD guns overlooking them there is very little you can do to negate damage except pound the place from the air first. 2 x BB Divisions shelled Wake during the night and BB Nevada, DD Converse and DD Waller hit a mine each. Only Converse is seriously damaged (57/36/17). BB Nevada was hardly scratched.

The shelling caused 500+ casualties, 17 guns and 5 supply hits.



Operation Buzzard will be launched tomorrow!

Once at sea I will disclose the location for invasion and land units but here's the OOB of the ships:

TF1098 - CV Victorious, CV Illustrious, CV Formidable + 6 x CLAA + 9 x DD
TF1104 - BB Valiant, BB Royal Sovereign, BB Ramilles + 2 x CA + 3 x CL + 8 x DD
TF1107 - BB Warspite, BB Revenge, BB Resolution + 2 x CA + 3 x CL + 8 x DD

TF1042 - main invasion and supply convoy - CVE Battler + 3 x Cruiser + 3 x DD + 5 x MSW + 3 x PG + 67 x AK, AP, TK etc
TF1154 - secondary invasion force - 3 x Cruiser + 3 x DD + 5 x MSW + 3 x PG + 37 Cargo ships
TF1044 - support forces - 3 x PG + 25 Cargo ships

AFIK Japanese mines were not that effective historically. In the next WITP upgrade I would like to see mines made more costly to produce -- certain Japanese players seem to use them too liberally.

I'm highly impressed by your putting together such a massive invasion fleet on the SEAC side. Good luck!

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

Woah what a day and a surprise. North Carolina, Washington, Alabama and Co. reached Wake and found enemy SHIPS there! I was not expecting that.

This seems like an uncharacteristic mistake on Faber's part.

Hi all,

Hi Capt. - I too think too many mines are useable by both sides. As for the SEAC invasion 95% of the invasion ships are AK's mind you..........

Hi Bruce - Faber admitted to me that he didn't think i'd come back so soon......good luck for me I did....10 ships later[:)]

Pauk - how do you wish me to log subs hits? The reason I ask is this. If you watch the combat animation you will see lot of 'near misses' but in the actual combat report you only see a few 'hits' sometime? Do you wish me to log the number of clean hits and the remaining hits according to CR or to CA?

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Today was another very good day for the Allies in general.....first the bad news.....

I was checking the SEAC invasion ships and I noticed that 90% of a Divisions and 2 x Brigade were not on the ships! They have somehow teleported back to Trincomalee. WTF[:-] As usuch there will be a 3/4 day delay whilst I go back and pick them up!

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The good news....have a look for yourselves:

Day Air attack on TF at 71,64


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 169
SB2C Helldiver x 160
TBM Avenger x 157


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 2 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD APD-36, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-2, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tofuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-38, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Teizui Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tamaki Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Waura Maru, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tanikaze, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Takayo Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Taiyo Maru, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
552 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

This was a convoy my CV's located east of the Mariana's.....screenshot below shows CV postion's and the convoy to the west.

Follow up attacks seems to confirm that all ships were sunk or left sinking taking with them 92nd Naval Guard Unit and 3rd Naval Construction Bn.

Good good so that should be another 1 x DD, 3 x APD and 6 x AP sent to Davy Jones.

My CV's are to move further to the NW to search for more shipping. A Fleet Boat located and heavily damaged an AP 240 miles NW of Pagan. Hopefully they will come within reach.

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Talking of subs..........

SS Argonaut evaded 5 x DD 240 miles SE of Iwo Jima.

SS Bowfin heavily damaged AP Haruna Maru with 2 torpedoes 240 miles NW of Pagan. An escorting PC hit Bowfin with a DC causing 13/36/0. She will return to Midway to be replaced by SS Shark II.

SS Cod sank the empty transport Karachi Maru with 3 torpeodes 240 miels west of Iwo Jima. PC Iki and Oki hit Cod with a DC and 3 near misses - 30/29/0. Returning to Midway and being replaced.

SS Billfish blew up PG Shinko Maru #1 with 2 torpeodes 60 miles SW of Saigon. That's her 3/4th kill on this patrol. 1 x DC landed nearby - 10/0/0. Staying on station with 6 x Torpedoes left.

SS Seal evaded 6 x ASW escorts west of Bataan.

SS Finback hit ML Kamone with dud torpeodes[8|] 360 miles west of Palau.

Air sightings = 28
Air attacks = 3

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Lautem had a third runway built today.............

3 x AK, an LCI, an AO and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

ORIGINAL: Speedy
Pauk - how do you wish me to log subs hits? The reason I ask is this. If you watch the combat animation you will see lot of 'near misses' but in the actual combat report you only see a few 'hits' sometime? Do you wish me to log the number of clean hits and the remaining hits according to CR or to CA?

Mines are, perhaps, too easy to laid down in numbers... but once the minefield is "founded" their efficiency is lost... and only very few AKs will be damaged/lost. So this is not a important issue, IMO. Actually this is only defensive weapon available for Japan since Kamis doesn't works (uber CAP)...

Speedy, i watch CR and takes notes for a) near misses damaging subs b) direct hits...what i do not know how much Allied subs are damaged with a) or b)... i know how demanding is to keep track for every single hit so i would be more than satisfied with something like "SS SpeedyadmirerofPauk is hit with 6 hits (none of them direct hit) and suffers 23/21/1 damage"...oh, just read your last post - excellent description of ASW effort!!!

One more question: how long it takes for your damaged subs to be repaired? I've noticed that Japanese subs have to stay a long time in yards for repairs?

Hi all,

Hi Paukocrappyplayer - I think for minefields the problem is when a TF enters the hex and it doesn't move out of the hex it is 'safe'. If the TF moves in and out (as my bombardment TF's are at Wake) then they are subject to mine's........

Sub damage - no problem will do.

Sub repair - sub's take a fair while to repair but I have AS's and AR's at my 2 main hubs - Midway and Darwin. They help dramatically.

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Well 1943 comes to a close and the tide has turned on Faber big time. In every theatre, apart from China, he is on the defensive. I personally expect and aim to be right at his throat - Home Islands, Phillipines by the end of 1944.

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My CV's didn't find any further enemy ships but they will continue to steam for 1 more day to the NW (inbetween Iwo Jima and Marcus Island) and then we move back to Wake.

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In the sub war:

SS Skipjack missed AK Kasii Maru with 4 torpeodes 60 miles east of Balikpapan. The 4 escorts did not locate my submarine.

SS Redfin hit the empty large tanker Tatekawa Maru with a torpedo 60 miles NE of Brunei. MSW W.7 hunted my submarine and scored 2 direct hits and 2 near misses - 47/94/0. She will probably not make Darwin.

SS Pollack heavily damaged ML Aotaka with a torpedo 300 miles east of Truk.

SS Sawfish attacked AK Menado Maru on the surface. She left the scene after hitting the freighter with 5 shells and 2 torpeodes.

Air sightings = 18
Air attacks = 2

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January 1944 brings me F4U1D's, Mossie FB's and Mossie Recon replacements [:)]

5 x AK, an LCI, DD and CVE Kalinin Bay arrive in theatre tomorrow as do a A20G and F6F5N group.

Intel score:

Points:

Japanese: +789
Allied: +1023

Planes:

Allies lost: 395
Japanese lost: 381

Troops:

Allies lost: 78 points
Japanese lost: 185 points

Ships:

Allies lost: 5 ships - 41 points. 1 x SS and the rest are DMS from Wake IIRC.
Japanese lost: 39 ships - 296 points. 20 of these were either at Wake or by mv CV's = 19 ships sunk by Submarines last month. I KNOW that CVL Chiyoda is not on the score yet so that makes 20 ships by Submarines at least.

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Thoughts = IMO the scoes tell a story. I have higher plane losses due to the ammount of missions i'm flying every day against Burma, the Marshalls and Wake = many ops and AA losses.

On the flip side Faber lost 178 points were of troops this month which is down to the shelling of Wake and my higher level of bombing

Shipping losses are ok. I would have hoped or another 5-10 ships by my subs but as I say I know Chiyoda is to be added the score which must be another c.150 points.

I feel Faber is adding to his score by expanding bases. Fine for now but of course when I capture those bases he will suffer a greater drop in score.

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January 1944 should see my SEAC invasion, the capture of Wake and the capture of the rest of Timor.

Hi all,

The first day of 1944 has passed..............

My CV's found no further shipping but were attacked by 12 x Tony and 3 x Frances from Marcus Island. I am going to move past Marcus and search for any ships there. If none are found I may attack the airfield on the way back to Wake.

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SS Argonaut evaded 5 x DD 240 miles SE of Iwo Jima.

SS Gunnel heavily damaged AK Kanto Maru with a torpedo 60 miles east of Tarakan. The escorts failed to find her in return.

Air sightings = 18
Air attacks = 2

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A Sunderland reported seeing a Japanese ship 60 miles SE of Macassar. I wonder if this is offensive shipping bouind for Timor? I have a Vengeance Squadron at Lautem tasked for hitting enemy ships and in 9 days time the engineers predict a 4th airfield will be constructed. When that happens I will move in Beauforts and more Mediums.

Within the next 2 weeks I will move towards Koepang and may paradrop onto Mili.

I have also started planning reinforcements for this region. I need more to move past Timor. I have a further Aviation Rgt moving from Brisbane to Darwin and I am about to load further troops and material in San Francisco for the next 3-4 months time. I have enough in the meantime (especially in airpower) to move into the region.

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All transports are back at Trincomalee and are re-loading troops.

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2 x AK, an LCI and DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

Hi all,

My CV's threw up the biggest CAP I have seen so far....406 x Helccat met the Marcus Island attackers. Not one of them survived........121 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of 10 x Hellcat.....screenshot attached...........

My DB's have been ordered to bomb the airfield tomorrow whilst the TB's remain on Naval Strike in case anything wanders nearby...........

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A Quieter day in the undersea war..........

SS Silversides damaged AK Yamabiko Maru with a torpedo 180 ESE of Batan Island. The escorts failed to find her.

SS Skipjack severely damaged AK Awata Maru with 2 torpedoes 60 miles east of Balikpapan.

SS Redfin unfortunately sank today after damaged caused by MSW W.7 a few days ago[&o]

Air sightings = 15
Air attacks = 0

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A Sunderalnd was tracking the enemy ships near Timor. I believe it to either be a SC or CV TF en route. The Vengeance's are waiting by if they come within range. Upto 40% for the next runway....come on guys......

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Operation Buzzard was launched again today after all troops were safely aboard my ships! They will be leaving Trincomalee tomorrow.............

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An MSW and SE arrive theatre tomorrow as does BR 14th Army and a PB4Y Squadron.

Daaaaamn! [X(]
 
<slobber, slobber>

ORIGINAL: Speedy

OMG [X(][X(], seeing 400+ planes on CAP is another cofirmation for me why I have house rules in my PBEMs limiting planes on a base 50xAF size and max 450 carrier based planes in a hex (=level 9 AF).

The evil flightless bird might as well send all his Cv's back to Tokyo going off this result[:D]

I am at the beginning of a game with Terminus. He has 2 carriers TFs that sail about the map with impunity. My guys can't hit the broadside of a barn[:)]. I think Speedy should just enjoy the payback.[:)]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

I am at the beginning of a game with Terminus. He has 2 carriers TFs that sail about the map with impunity. My guys can't hit the broadside of a barn[:)]. I think Speedy should just enjoy the payback.[:)]

Dont worry. Faber is taking his frustrations out on me. [:)]