AAR about my "fictive" Kursk Campaign

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AAR about my "fictive" Kursk Campaign - 5/30/2001 11:04:00 PM

Gordon_freeman
Matrix Recruit

Posts: 28
Joined: 5/14/2001
From: Deutschland
Status: offline

I am not sure wether any of u are interested in these kind of thing, but after reading Alexandra's AAR i first thought of doing it, so, here it is, hope u enjoy it, if not, tell me and i wil shut up, these are the first two turns of my very first battle. I will wait for the reactions wether i shall post my next turns... My force consist not 100% truely out of the propper available material, but so what, it's a game anyhow and we all play to enjoy, not for reanactment! Finally, we will go eastwards again. After a lul of fighting our battle hardened troops are looking for action. When we received the latest tankupgrade from the Reich our tankers can't wait to unlesh that power. And last and least, it's another cauldron battle, that's for sure! The Russians allowed us to concentrate our troops once again to crush them. OKW was giving final orders for Operation Zitadelle, the destruction of several Soviet armies. Our mobile force is brought up to 110% strength to be one of the first to strike. 3.06.1943, 2.00 in the morning CET, 5.00 in the morning real time. We are looking to test the Russians defence and see in what strength they may appear. Our forward listening posts could'nt tell us a thing, we were brought in a rush without propper preperation. Official Order: Find the Russians, kill them, secure the area as another built up for the next step in Opertation Zitadelle. The order was brought in a hurry and will be carried out in a hurry. Luftwaffe was'nt helpfull either, their reconnaissance reports did mean a thing to us. My fellow Officers, Hauptmann Klein form the Panzergrenadiere and Hauptmann Stiegel from the schwere Panzerabteilung 503 weren't happy either. Still dark we cannot use the range advantage of our big guns, but who was asking us. In the middle of our attack zone is a little town (the name i forgot as soon as it was mentioned, just another graveyard) embeded in a slight hilly sourounding. A small forest to the north shoould be no problem for the Grenadiere. The hilly area to the very south and to the northeast of the twon gives me some headache. It's a perfect ambush zone, bushes and small forests break the line of sight after a couple of meters. During debriefing the Artillerie officer was orderd to prepare pre plotted fire zones in even this two areas, just in case. Leutnant Petereit from the Pionierabteilung was ordered to take the town with his Pioniere and to secure it, if he meets enemy resistance, destroy whatever is neccessary to achieve your order! The Kameraden from the Luftwaffe will have a comparable easy job, night only means harassment attacks, they are not allowed to deal with them to not tell the Russians our positions. After a short report from all unit commanding officers the order goes like this: Pioniere and Hauptsturmführer Schwendt himself will secure the town with a single Panzerzug of Panzer IV H's. Parts of the schwere Panzerabteiling detachment in conjunction with two Panzerzüge (Panzer III L's) and a support Zug of Panzer IV E's will cover the northern area of the town, while Hauptmann Klein and his Grenadierkompanie will clean the wood of whatever he might find in there. For his direct support i ordered our only StuG batterie to their aid (3 StuG III G's). To the south of the town the full SS Schützenkompanie has been deployed, together with a B-Batterie (8,8) of the Luftwaffe, 3 Züge Panzer IV G's, one Zug Panzer II F's, their halftracks and one Zug of mobile AA (3,7's). In the back area we have stationed the reconnaissance Züge (3 Züge of 8-wheel SdKfz. 231), one Zug of Marder 2's and the Kameraden of the Artillery with their rocketlauncher halftracks and their ammuntion trains. If everything goes well, we see us in 2 hours ahead drinking one of the Cognac's my Adjudant brought from Paris! Meine Herren, viel Erfolg! Turn 1: As ordered the Grenadiere walk off in the dark to secure the north area infront ot the schwere Panzerabteilung and their tank detachments. But how often well laid planes went wrong, so with this one! As soon as the order for "Abteilungen Marsch Marsch" was given we heard the dreaded sound of Russian Armor! Only a few moments later the first radio transmissions from Hauptamm Klein's Grenadiere poored in telling us from a full Russian Assault they seem to have bumped in! Only half a minute later Hauptsturmführer Schwendt reported contact to Russian infantry. In the middle of the town allready! Jesus, this time they got us pants down! As soon as me and my Stab was looking concerned to the north shoots could be heard in the south area, followed by gunshoots and tankmovement. There was something going wrong horribly! I just ordered the SS Kompanie to advance in their halftracks, no tanks. If the tanks start to shoot and move it means trouble... Only seconds after that a wild shootout broke loose in the town, what the hell is going on? After frightfull moments we got the first reports coming in: North of the town: infantry with tank support, mainly T 34's, detect more tanks, but no positive identification... Town: Hauptsturmführer Schwendt reports SU 122's in support of several infantry units, named as at least 4 platoons of infantry and three MG team's. Tanks ordered to back off to not get an easy pray for these beast's, in close range no Panzer IV is a match for a SU 122!. South of the town: Anti Tank Riffle fire against the SS Halftracks, anything else is quiet. Who ordered the Tanks to move and shoot? After another fingernailbiting moment we got the responsable officer on the radio: Several infantry platoons try to break through, were tried to stop by a single halftrack which in the short line of sight discovered several Russian Assault guns and tanks and got in a crossfire situation, so he ordered two tanks to get that halftrack out just to find themself under ATR fire and a full human wave attack! Moment's later we got another report from the Grenadiers, Leutnant Kronz reporting close combat with 3 three light tanks (T 70's). More gunshoots can be heard, also the awefull noise of several 122mm guns shooting... Turn 2: Not waiting further reports me and my adjudants rush towrards the town center. On the way we receive Hauptsurmführer Schwendt's message of close combat with infantry in buildings, he now must be only several dozend meters away to the north! Oberleutnant Zimmermann (support with Panzer IV G's for Hauptsturmführer Schwendt) reports succesfull disengagement from the towncenter and the dreaded Su 122's after Schwendt placed smoke in their line of sight. Also his attached halftrack pulled back, finally good news. Still Gunshoots in the south, small arms fire, then the first battle startemant: 2 SU 122's killed, 2 ATR teams killed, only infantry left to fight. Remeber me to propose Oberleutant Eberbach for a medal. Then more concerns: In the wood just south of the town more infantry have been sighted and fighting continues, request of releasing the halftracks for close support, granted. A single T 34 has been sighted as well, heading towards the town, damn, where do all these tanks come from. These Luftwaffen guys owe me something! Moments later more bad news coming in: The first Zug of the SS Kompanie was dismounting their halftracks, marched over a hill straight in another russian attack formation. That as well is only a dozend meters further south of my position! How can our detection be so bad and give us no reconnaissance about this? The first loss, a Panzer IV G, killed by even what we believed was a single T 34 on the way to the town. It turned out to be several tanks with infantry... Leutnant Kronz reporting in: Tank thread cleared (also thanks to an unknown Panzer III L which killed a T 70 trying to bypass the Grenadiere), no Russian survivors. Hauptmann Stiegel reports in: Rushed forward, screened by infantry just to detect 7 T 34's, killed 6 of them and damaged the last one. These Tigers are leathal! At the same time contact of a single Tiger and a StuG fighting 2 KV 2's and a T 34, now left is scrap soviet metall, Teufelskerl Feldwebel Ostendorff! He killed both KV 2's leaving the T 34 for the StuG. I ordered one StuG as close support for Leutnants Kronz soldiers, just in case any tank bigger then a T 70 appaers. The rest of the zweite Tiger Zug is covering Feldwebel Ostendorff and the single StuG. Sounds like the north will be quiet in a few moments. Also orders are given to both Panzer III L Züge to move further North, let's see wether we can bypass the Russian attack and drive from their back straight in their positions! Also ordered one of the Reconaissance Zug to bypass the russian infantry in the south, i need reliable informations about this Russian attack in the south and how deep it is!

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Post #: 1

- 5/31/2001 4:11:00 AM

FrankyVas
Matrix Trooper

Posts: 69
Joined: 6/28/2000
From: Northridge, CA,, USA
Status: offline

What happened then!?!??!?!?!?! (you should post it in german as well. My german is rusty but I could use the practice.) Frank V.

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(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 2

- 6/1/2001 9:40:00 PM

Gordon_freeman
Matrix Recruit

Posts: 28
Joined: 5/14/2001
From: Deutschland
Status: offline

Cause i get a positive reply i keep on reporting: Turn 3: Before realizing what is going on we are in close combat with Russain infantry! Samll arms fire can be heard clearly to our left and right side. The action costs us precious moments where we lost contact to our troops. After three attacks the Russians retire to regain strength and reorganize their ranks, no losses with us so far. Within this break of fighting reports keep pouring in: Tigers in the north of the town still engaged more T 34's, knocking out one more while Feldwebel Ostendorff knocks out another assault gun, a SU 122, but had to let pass other ones while he was aiming for that one. The StuG kept the crews and infantry suppressed with MG fire. In the south more visuall contacts with tanks of all sorts and infantry pressing forward. Our advance has become a complete standstill. Still more infantry contacts within the town. The Pioniere press onwards as they are orderd, whipe out infantry and clear possible strongholds with their flamethrowers, reporting a contact with a SU 122 with destroying that vehicle in close combat. Still more infantry contacts and one of the Pionierzüge retieres after heavy close combat and several casualties. Complet chaos within the town, no clear picture of where our units are, a nightmare situation. Then more fighting sounds in the south and reports telling us that the first SS Zug retired after talking casualties from infantry with Tank support, positive identification of KV 1's with T 34 and Su 122 support. Numbers unknown. At least 5 T 34 coming through the woods in the south. Words of 2 destroyed Su 122's also get through, but not yet confirmed. Heavy small arms fire indicates that further in the south figthing continues. Within this the Russians suddenly keep coming once more: Hand to hand fight , we need to seek cover loosing one of my Adjudants, still holding our ground. Where do all this Russians come from, where is our support infantry? Turn 4: "We can't held this position, Herr Oberst! For christ sake, retire! They are too many!" With this words onther of my adjudants fell on the floor, his chest hit several times by bullets. MY Funker sights and is also dead. "Rückzug!" Within the move I grab the Tornisterfunkgerät and run to the back of the house, jump together with the two left fellow officers out of the window, Russians hot on our heels. While we are still climbing into the neighbour house Russians appear at the windows and start firing at us. Before realizing what is going on several explosions rock through that house and seconds after the smoke and dust disapperad we recognize SS Männer, thank God, finally our support arrived, just in time. After a short and bitter fight the house is once again in our hand. Hauptsturmführer Schwendt and his adjudant appear asking for orders. "Herr Oberst, mit Verlaub, das war knapp! A second later and you might have been dead. Anyhow, what is going on, i lost contact to our left Frontabschnitt with the Pioniere, no clue where they are. I will leave one of my man with u to replace the Funker." "Danke" is the only reply i am able to say for the moment, still grasping for breath. Still we can hear heavy fighting sounds all around us. A Melder comes towards us, reporting that the second platoon, zweiter Zug has just retired after succesless attacks on a T 34 and loosing several men, just several meters away. Finally we get reports coming in bit by bit which give us the following picture: North of the city no more Tank threads, only infantry sighted and kept supressed with MG fire. Positions of all units need to be reported. Town: The full situation is unclear, lost contact to our Pioniere. Ahead of us lods of Russian infantry with various kinds of tanks in support. South: total lost of contact, ordered several Melder to regain contact and gather situation reports. Then the dreadfull sound of Russian Tanks can be heard, followed by explosions. Moments later a melder ask for the permission to retire in front of three T 34 endangering two platoons. Permission given. The moment the Melder left he is shoot and we see more Russian infantry fighting with our Kameraden. Without hestitation we grab our weapons and start shooting once more, killing them. Turn 5: Try to reestablish radio contact to the key units, still faiure to the South. In the North the sutiation seems to be stable. Reports about infantry are to be confirmed. Still no contact to the Pioniere. I wonder where they are? In our stright neighbourhood a short close assault is done by the Kameraden of the SS, leaving the three T 34's burning, no prisinors are taken. Then the first contact to the South: Hand to hand fight in the woods, two more SU 122's and a SU 76 have been destroyed, allmost the full right Flank is on halt due to heavy fighting and missing infantry support as well as lost contact to us. I order the third Zug of the SS Kompanie to rush to the woods in the south and clean it from any opposing infantry, as well as the two Züge with Panzer IV G's to support them, halftracks of the SS to give them close infantry fire support. I also order the third Aufklärungszug to finally move themself to give me a reconnaissance report of what we have to expect further in the east! Also the second Zug of the light Panzer II F's are ordered to close support the motorcycle Zug in their task to keep the Russian infantry from bypassing our positions and fall in our back. One of the KV 1's has been immobilzed by our infantry, still no clue how many tanks are in the South. Report coming in from a visual contact with one of our Pionier platoons, but i don't know which one that is, and, of course, too much to the North. Ordered all Züge to report their position and that we are alive.

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(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 3

- 6/1/2001 10:12:00 PM

LeibstandartePzD
Matrix Trooper

Posts: 130
Joined: 1/5/2001
From: NW Indiana, (Valpo) USA
Status: offline

Keep sending the reports. Very interesting!

_____________________________

Respectfully,
Jason E. Otto
Former member of the 8th US Cavalry and a grandson of a Leibstandarte tanker.

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech

(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 4

- 6/2/2001 2:46:00 AM

darroch
Matrix Trooper

Posts: 210
Joined: 3/13/2001
From: US
Status: offline

Great so far.... Where is the Kursk campaign? Homegrown? If it is in 5.01 I missed it! I'd like to play this one if it is available...

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Post #: 5

- 6/6/2001 8:37:00 PM

Gordon_freeman
Matrix Recruit

Posts: 28
Joined: 5/14/2001
From: Deutschland
Status: offline

Sorry to say, that, but this is just a "created Campaign", so noreal solid informations about this. But i will create a new topic asking people wether they like it. I will now post the missing turns: Turn 6: Position reports come in giving me now the following picture: In the North the Russian Tanks have been destroyed and 2 waves of Russian infantry have been stopped going forward with heavy casualties for the Russians. The two Panzer III L Züge were still on the move to circle around the Russian positions and are about to carefully attack the backward areas. Tigers together with their support Panzer III M's are supporting the infantry with stopping the Russian Infantry. Town: Finally we made radio contact to our Pioniere! They are alive but took several casualties but managed to destroy 3 SU 122's in close combat and are about to clear the North of the town. The SS platoons are ordered to fall back in front of a Russian Tank/infantry attack with at least 7 T 34 and KV 1's. We lost contact to Haupsturmführer Schwendt for several minutes. A general back up of 100 meters is ordered to fall back and reorganize our platoons. South: The Aufklärungszug is on the way and the Panzer II F's are clearing the woods together with the motorcyclezug. It looks as if we get the upper hand and orders are to attack the Russian South flank. The second SS Zug is on the way to support the "cleaning" in the wood. Panzer ready for action and waiting are ordered to follow the Aufklärungszug. The other two Panzerzüge are ordered to stand still and wait for the infantry to support. Several ATR teams are killed by our haltracks and tanks. We have to find these Russian Tanks in the wood, whereever they might be! Seems like we have survived the Russian main attack... Turn 7: More and more position reports give us a better picture of the overall situation. The Pioniere report two more Su 122's destryed, infantry on the run. The SS and us have retired back and prepare ourself to hold the Russians once back, meanwhile I order the Pioniere to get further south as well as tanks for their support. A single Tiger with a Panzer III M is rushing into the towncenter to secure the crossroad as well as giving the pioniers much needed support. Further in the North we get reports of the two Panzer III L züge beeing anbushed, loosing two tanks but pressing the infantry further to the south while other tanks bump into mortar positions, seems we are hiting their back areas. More infantry waves hit he infantry/tank defence line straight North of the Town, just to be repulsed for several times. Artillery has been requested and ordered to fire FFE stright into their ranks, even so we don't have any observervation possebility. The third SS Schützenzug arrives in the wood South of us and is disembarking, ready to strike the Russians. The Motorcycles together with the Aufklärungszug are clearing the wood from further South pushing the Russians slowly towards the North. If we can keep on the presure we have a perfect cauldron situation and no Russian will escape. I order Hauptsturmfühere Schwendt to take over command in the town area so i can coordinate and direct our forces to crush the Russians. We lost contact to the left Russain Tanks, and i don't like the idea of Russian armor running around. After a short discussion with Hauptsturmführer Schwendt we decide: First we clear the South wood, then the Town while the North will be moving on towards the South and hopefully encircle the Russians from the back, giving us an amboss to hit them hard! Still the Russian infantry is pressing on, giving us a hard time, but so far no break in our lines. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Turn 8: The attack in the north continues and brings more death to the Russians, lighten their ranks significant. The 1. Zug Panzer III L has swung around the Russian positions and is hitting the rear areas of them , killing two mortar positions, several infantry platoons and endangering th whole Russian attack. meanwhile the human wave attacks are repulsed and forced into retreat. No Russian tank so far. The artillerie even bringing more death and confusion to those already stugering Russian infantry units. The hammer and amboss tactic is working, In the town our Pioniere keep clearing buildings and destroy a lonly T 34 with "onboard" infantry with a little help of the single Tiger in the towncenter. With this attack we managed to encircle the major force of the Russians, leaving a smaller, but yet unknown force in the woods and South outer limits of the town. The SS is attacked again by tanks and assault guns (SU 122's) but managed to destroy the two Su 122's and immobalizing the T 34. The Russians are attacking the town without infantry support and driving straight into the buildings, making them vulanerable to our infantry attacks. Hauptsturmführer Schwendt reports visiual contact to our Pioniere. In the South heavy close comabt is reportet by the tanks, but not confirmation of what exactly is going on, while the SS is attacking. The Aufklärungszug reports no enemy contact in the rear areas so far. Done, the Russians will be trapped! I order the motorcycles to assist the light Panzer II F's and let them roll up the Russians from the back. Suddenly the Russians seem to understand their situation and try to break out. Fierce close combat is reportet in the Southern woods, while the Front in teh Noerth is fianlly pushed eastwards. More Artillery shoots can be heard and seconds later the impact can be heard and seen in the east, but our Nebelwerfer seem to aim too short, no casualties within our ranks so. More Russian Tanks try to break into the town center just to got destroyed by the Pioniere and the Tiger and Panzer III N, laeving a SU 122, a Su 76, a T 34 and a T 70 destroyed behind, but infantry is also pressing in and our Pioniere retire to cover the Tanks from infantry assaults. The Russian attack is beaten off, but now it is our turn to teach them a lesson of mobile warfare. More mortars have been found and are ordered to be knocked out. Turn 9: The Russians now realize what is going on. The infantry in the Northeast is trying to save themself, a full rout has hit them. Our tanks, infantry and artillery bring death whereever they see russians. The Russians don't fight as a unit anymore, only individual soldiers are trying to put up resistance only to be driven down by tanks or getting killed by close in infantry. The artillery has now been ordered to stop shelling the area. Our amboss in form of the Panzer III L zug is blowing Russian infantry plattons appart. In the town the infantry tries to break free of the encirclement and is repulsed by SS and Pioniere. The Tiger and the Pionier platoon kill several assault guns (SU 122's) and rout several platoons of Russian infantry. A sinlge Russian platoon is trying to break through to the West and is whiped out by Hauptsturmführer Schwendt and his men. In the wood in the South close comabt gives way for melees and soon we have reports telling us the loss of several halftraks and Tanks due to molotv cocktials. Still the defence line is closing around the Russians even tighter leaving them with no way to escape. Panic starts to hit their ranks. The Aufklärungszug is putting more mortars out of action and giving us the detailed view reports of the deserted rear area, now secured by them. Orders are given to secure the South wood now and whipe out the Northeastern cauldron. Trun 10: Fierce hand to hand fight in the Southern woods, but the Russian will to resist is broken, only single units keep up resisting. So we take losses the Russians are no longer a threat. In the wood is now cleaning up. In the town a couple of Russian soldiers try to break out but are killed while trying. Still we can hear single Russian armor driving around. In the Northeast the rout goes on, reports say u cannot talk of a proper defence anymore. Lods of Russians simply surrender. The first interrogation of Russian soldiers tells us, that they were surprised as we are, but they knew we were around! The first impressions seems that we do have to expect propper defence lines further in the South and Southeast. Turn 11: The Russians officers offered surrender, which we gladly accepted. The only place where stiff resistance is offered is in the Southern woods, we keep on pressing, killing all Russian resistance pockets but still keep on loosing halftracks and Panzer II F's. The Town is now completely taken, after the remaining SS platoons rolled up the Russian resistance and killed all defenders. The single Tiger is anbushed and destroyed by the immobilized KV 1. But the crew bails out and survives. THe KV 1 is finished by a rushed in Panzer IV G and now the whole Russian front collapses. In the first morning light we see the full destruction we have created: 57 tank wrecks are counted, and interrogations credit us with roughly 2200 killed Russian soldiers. 20 small mortars fell into our hands as well as an Anti aircraft vehicle. So impressive as the numbers are, we took considerable damage. We lost 12 tanks including one of the so invinceable Tigers! Reports from the morning apell showed that 236 men were missing. I lost both adjudants and Hauptsturmführer Schwendt got slightly injured. Our report to High command raised questions there and they ordered us to reorganize and stand by. We wait...

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(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 6

- 6/6/2001 11:54:00 PM

Wild Bill
Matrix Legion of Merit

Posts: 6821
Joined: 4/7/2000
From: Smyrna, Ga, 30080
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Very interesting reading, George. Nice job! Is this "Kursk" campaign one you have done yourself or is it a generated campaign. If it is a user edited campaign, I'd like to see it. Your reports are quite interesting! Wild Bill

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Independent Game Consultant

(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 7

- 6/7/2001 4:30:00 PM

Gordon_freeman
Matrix Recruit

Posts: 28
Joined: 5/14/2001
From: Deutschland
Status: offline

Dear Wild Bill, it is a random generated campaign, but i ahve great interest in do a "propper" large campaign, but missing to many informations, cause my "library" is too limited, and the internet is often not detailed enough. What i like to do is to create a a) German campaign of, let's say 12 fictive battles and b) the same for the Russians. I will start working on it but it will not be as detailed and good resaerched as ur scenarios, sorry (see above reasons, and being a "young" familiy father gives me limited time, wish a day had 48 hours). What I am really interested in is the following: I'd like to play a campaign, like the Kursk battle, with a couple of peoples, in the following form: A team of referees create battles for two teams (in my Kursk exdample a Russian and a German team), offering also a " stratigic map" where players chose to play, i.e. battles are created by those referees where battle oocurs. Then, u take the battle outcome and put this "new" situation back to the "startigic map", so both teams can then react. I would like to see if this is interetsing enough for gamers, cause it would mean that u need something like a chain of command. I understand that this is very, very complicated but I allways see the aspect of fun. So, do u think that there are enough gamers out there which would like to start something like that? If this interesting enough to be pressed on, let me know, cause i like to start first with a little campaign to make rules, see how quick people return games, and so on and forth. Thanks in advance George

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Post #: 8

- 6/7/2001 5:59:00 PM

Wild Bill
Matrix Legion of Merit

Posts: 6821
Joined: 4/7/2000
From: Smyrna, Ga, 30080
Status: offline

Your idea is a good one, George. You probably should see if you can enlist a team to help you with that project. I believe some gamers here would be very interested in participating. Understood about the "fatherhood" and limited library. The need for more books never seems to end. I wish you the best with this project...WB

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Independent Game Consultant

(in reply to Gordon_freeman)

Post #: 9

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