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Royal Navy
HMS Stronghold
Sinking of the HMS Stronghold
by
Ronnie Taylor and Tom Jowett
Keeping their Candle Burning
On the 16th January 1942, the Stronghold formed part of the Far Eastern Squadron, or China Force. Led by the light cruisers HMS Danae, HMS Dragon and HMS Durban, the force escorted convoys.
HMAS Vendetta was being refitted in the Singapore Naval Dockyard. On the 2nd February 1942 she was taken in tow by Stronghold to Tandjong Priok, Java. She was subsequently towed by a merchant vessel to Australia eventually arriving Melbourne 4th April 1942 (via Freemantle and Adelaide).
Between the 11th and 13th of February, the HMS Stronghold took up escorting duties escorting the refrigerated cargo ship ‘Empire Star’.
HMS Stronghold was then assigned to an anti-submarine patrol off the coast of Cilacap (Tjilatjap). On the 1st March the HMS Stronghold spotted the Dutch heavily laden evacuation ship ‘Zandaam’ making for Freemantle and HMS Stronghold served as escort, but, being short of fuel the Stronghold had to conserve what fuel it had and reduced speed letting the Zandaam speed off ahead.
On the 2nd March the Stronghold was spotted by a Japanese seaplane who reported the sighting to the Japanese fleet. At 17.05 the Heavy Cruiser Maya, accompanied by two more heavy cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on the HMS Stronghold and at 17.43 found its target with its 8 inch shells. The two Japanese destroyers Arashi and Nowaki also fired with their 5 inch shells. Stronghold returned fire but was completely out gunned. Suffering damage to the forward mess and the engine room, which had to be abandoned. Torpedoes from the two Japanese destroyers crippled the ship and the ship was abandoned as she sunk at 19.00. The lifeboats had been damaged in the enemy action so the survivors in the water clung onto four Carley floats, which soon drifted apart. Fifty were picked up on the 5th March by 'Sigli', an ex Dutch steamer, which was now crewed by Japanese. They were transferred to a Japanese cruiser and shipped to Makassar as Prisoners of War.
HMS Stronghold
Sinking of the HMS Stronghold
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Name
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Rank
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Service/No
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Baker, Alfred William Ewart
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Petty Officer
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D/JX 131483
|
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Barnard, Stanley Frederick
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Telegraphist
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P/JX 205808
|
|
Beard, Stanley Thomas
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Stoker 1st Class
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P/KX 103383
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Birch, Gordon
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Stoker 1st Class
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D/KX 108120
|
|
Brookfield, Arthur William
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Signalman
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P/SSX 33626
|
|
Burton, Albert
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Able Seaman
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D/JX145851
|
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Carter, Joseph Samuel
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Chief Stoker
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D/K 65707
|
|
Clark, John Douglas
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Ordinary Signalman
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P/JX 214006
|
|
Collier, Alexander George
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Signalman
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C/JX 258982
|
|
Collins, Jerome
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Petty Officer
|
D/J 114293
|
|
Cornwell, Sidney John Moore
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Sub-Lieutenant (E)
|
|
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Cotterill, John Charles
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Stoker 2nd Class
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P/KX 122186
|
|
Craigie, James
|
Petty Officer Stoker
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D/KX 82021
|
|
Crawford, George William
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Stoker 1st Class
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C/KX107328
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|
Davies, Ellis
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 176400
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|
Dunn, Arthur George
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Warrant Engineer
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|
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Eason, Herbert John
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Lieutenant
|
|
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Edmunds, William Henry
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Sergeant
|
PLY/X 203
|
|
Ellis, Harold
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Stoker 2nd Class
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D/KX 127090
|
|
Evans, Albert Edward
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Petty Officer Stoker
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C/K 65294
|
|
Fishwick, Eli
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Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 22698
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|
Foo Siang Inn,
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Steward
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|
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Fudge, Albert Edward
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Marine
|
PLY/22305
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Gardner, Ronald Douglas Haig
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Yeoman of Signals
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D/JX 138912
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|
Gellatly, David Neill
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Signalman
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C/JX 214138
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Gerry, William Leonard Jack
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Able Seaman
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P/JX 168970
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|
Graham, Charles
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Stoker 2nd Class
|
C/KX 133501
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|
Gunn, Ronald Vernon
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Lieutenant
|
|
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Hoffman, Jack Sanler
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Commander
|
|
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Horry, Leonard Parr
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Petty Officer
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D/J 105725
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|
Horsted, Walter James
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Petty Officer
|
P/JX 136917
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|
Hudson, Alfred John
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 168162
|
|
Jackson, Edward George
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Leading Seaman
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D/X 151877
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|
Johnston, Kenneth James
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Chief Engine Room Artificer
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D/M 38401
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Jones, Trevor
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Able Seaman
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C/SS 27314
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|
Jowett, Eric Pollard
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Supply Assistant
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P/MX 65612
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Kilburn, John Mason
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Leading Seaman
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D/SSX 19652
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Lacey, Ernest William
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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
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D/MX 55086
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Lewis, George Richard
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 188018
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|
Lindsay, David
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Stoker 1st Class
|
P/KX. 109594
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|
Lowry, George Victor
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Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 20899
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|
Lowther, Thomas
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Able Seaman
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P/JX 161277
|
|
Macdonald, Wilfred Ivor
|
Petty Officer
|
D/JX 137926
|
|
Mapp, William Albert
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Able Seaman
|
D/JX 159580
|
|
Marshall, William
|
Stoker 1st Class
|
C/KX 103885
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|
Mcfarlane, William Stewart
|
Lieutenant
|
|
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Middleton, Thomas Norman
|
Petty Officer
|
P/JX 126042
|
|
Morgan, Harold
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Leading Telegraphist
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D/JX 148877
|
|
Morris, Richard
|
Marine
|
PLY/X 1808
|
|
Morton, Malcolm Henry
|
Stoker 2nd Class
|
2532
|
|
Newby, Norman Francis
|
Leading Stoker
|
D/KX 85575
|
|
O'connell, Maurice
|
Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 27075
|
|
O'hara, Bernard Joseph
|
Able Seaman
|
D/JX 172375
|
|
Oliver, Joseph Ronald
|
Stoker 2nd Class
|
3136
|
|
Owen, Walter David
|
Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 19562
|
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Palmer, Ernest
|
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
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P/MX 79478
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Pascoe, John Edgecombe
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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
|
D/MX 48009
|
|
Patterson, Walter
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Chief Stoker
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P/KX 76713
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Payton, Clifford
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 144662
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|
Pearce, Verdun
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Ordinary Seaman
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D/JX 188754
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Pinkney, Terence
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Stoker 1st Class
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P/KX 87541
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Poland, Harry William
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 165192
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|
Pretor-Pinney, Giles Robert
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Lieut-Commander
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|
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Price, John Howell
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 167701
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Rees, Archibald Leslie
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Petty Officer Stoker
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D/K 65094
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Roberts, Edward Norman Ronald
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Stoker 1st Class
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D/KX 114750
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|
Robinson, Richard
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 172208
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|
Rothwell, Ralph Laxon
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Stoker 2nd Class
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2426
|
|
Smith, Ernest
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Able Seaman
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D/JX 135374
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|
Smith, William
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Able Seaman
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C/JX 168189
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|
Smith, William Frederick
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Stoker 1st Class
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P/KX 99209
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St. Aubyn, Erskine Knollys Heveningham
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Commander
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|
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Steed, Reginald Frederick
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Gunner
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|
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Stokes, William Walter
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Leading Seaman
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D/JX 144192
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|
Symons, Edward Thomas
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Chief Stoker
|
D/KX 76304
|
|
Taylor, Bruce Gaunson
|
Assistant Cook (S)
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3093
|
|
Taylor, Samuel
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Petty Officer Stoker
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C/KX 76850
|
|
Trude, Arthur Henry
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Stoker 1st Class
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D/KX 97933
|
|
Turbefield, John
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Able Seaman
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C/JX 182560
|
|
Tyre, Patrick Joseph
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Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 26862
|
|
Walker, Leslie Joseph
|
Able Seaman
|
D/SSX 27983
|
|
Walsh, Thomas
|
Stoker 1st Class
|
D/KX 114926
|
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