Battle of Madagascar
Part of African Campaigns, World War II
British soldiers landing at Tamatave in May 1942.
Date 5 May 1942 - 6 November 1942 Location Madagascar Result Allied victory Territorial changes Allied takeover of Madagascar
Combatants
United Kingdom  Rhodesia British East African colonies South Africa  Australia (naval only) 219. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Toamasina (Masc. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag of Rhodesia, 1965–1968. ... This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ... The Kings African Rifles (KAR) was a British colonial regiment in East Africa from 1902 until the independence of the various colonies in the 1960s. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...	Vichy France Japan (naval only)
Commanders
Robert Sturges	Armand Léon Annet
Strength
10,000-15,000 (land forces)	8,000 (land forces)[1]
Casualties
107 killed in action; 280 wounded;[2] 620 casualties in total (including deaths from disease)	150 killed in action; 500 wounded[3]

The Battle of Madagascar was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Motto Travail, famille, patrie French: Unoccupied zone of Vichy France (until November 1942) Capital Vichy Capital-in-exile Sigmaringen (1944-1945) Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Chief of state  - 1940 — 1944 Philippe Pétain President of the Council  - 1940 — 1942 Philippe Pétain  - 1942 — 1944 Pierre Laval... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Sturges (right) with Belgian Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot in April, 1944. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Armand Léon Annet (born 5 June 1888; died 25 April 1973) was a Governor for various colonies in French Colonial Empire. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... Motto Travail, famille, patrie French: Unoccupied zone of Vichy France (until November 1942) Capital Vichy Capital-in-exile Sigmaringen (1944-1945) Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Chief of state  - 1940 — 1944 Philippe Pétain President of the Council  - 1940 — 1942 Philippe Pétain  - 1942 — 1944 Pierre Laval... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Background

In early 1942, Allied leaders believed that ports on the island might be used by Japan, an idea shared by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine). Following their conquest of South East Asia, east of Burma by the end of February 1942, the Japanese high command was able to contemplate moves westward. Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy were moving freely throughout the Indian Ocean. In March 1942, Japanese aircraft carriers conducted the Indian Ocean raid. This raid drove the British Eastern Fleet out of the north-east Indian Ocean. The British were forced to re-locate to a new base at Kilindini (at Mombasa), in Kenya. Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kriegsmarine (or War Navy) was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, during the Nazi regime, superseding the Reichsmarine. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For Combined Fleet, please see that article. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Japanese Raids into Indian Ocean be merged into this article or section. ... The British Eastern Fleet (also known as the East Indies Fleet and the Far East Fleet) was a fleet of the Royal Navy during World War II and post war until 1971. ... Kilindini Harbour is a large, natural deep-water inlet extending inland from Mombasa, Kenya. ... Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. ...

The move laid the fleet open to a new angle of attack: the possibility of Japanese naval forces using forward bases in Madagascar had to be addressed. The potential use of these facilities threatened Allied merchant shipping, the supply route to the British Eighth Army and also the Eastern Fleet. The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ...

Japanese submarines had the longest ranges of any at the time — more than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) in some cases. Had these submarines been able to utilise bases on Madagascar, it would have affected Allied lines of communications in a region stretching from the Pacific and Australia, to the Middle East and South Atlantic. For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

Operation Ironclad

Allied commanders decided to launch an amphibious assault on Madagascar. The plan was known as Operation Ironclad and Allied forces, centred initially on the British Army and the Royal Navy were commanded by Major-General Robert Sturges of the Royal Marines. The Allied naval contingent consisted of over 50 vessels, drawn from Force H, the British Home Fleet and the British Eastern Fleet, commanded by Rear Admiral Edward Neville Syfret. The fleet included HMS Illustrious, her sister ship HMS Indomitable and the ageing battleship HMS Ramillies to cover the landings. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Sturges (right) with Belgian Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot in April, 1944. ... The Royal Marines (RM) are the marines and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service [2]. They are also the United Kingdoms amphibious force and specialists in mountain and Arctic warfare. ... Force H was a British naval squadron during World War II. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany. ... The Home Fleet is the traditional name of the fleet of the Royal Navy that protects the United Kingdoms territorial waters. ... Admiral Sir Edward Neville Syfret was a British naval officer who served with the Royal Navy in World War I and World War II. He was knighted for his part in Operation Pedestal, the critical Malta convoy. ... The fourth HMS Illustrious (R87) of the Royal Navy was an aircraft carrier, arguably the one with the most distinguished and vital career of this proud lineage. ... HMS Indomitable (R92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ... For other uses, see Battleship (disambiguation). ... HMS Ramillies (pennant number 07) was a Revenge-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after the Battle of Ramillies. ...

The landings

Following many reconnaissance missions by the South African Air Force, the British 5th Infantry Division's 17th Infantry Brigade Group and 13th Infantry Brigade, as well as the British 29th Infantry Brigade, and 5 Commando, Royal Marines were carried ashore by landing craft to Courrier Bay and Ambararata Bay, just west of the major port of Diego Suarez (later known as Antsiranana), at the northern tip of Madagascar. A diversionary attack was staged to the east. Air cover was provided mainly by Fairey Albacores, Grumman Martlets and Fairey Swordfish from the Fleet Air Arm, which attacked Vichy shipping. A small number of SAAF planes assisted. The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... The British 5th Infantry Division was a World War II infantry division. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The 13th Infantry Brigade was a regular British Army formation during the Second World War. ... The 29th Infantry Brigade was a regular brigade in the British Army during the Second World War. ... The Royal Marines (RM) are the marines and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service [2]. They are also the United Kingdoms amphibious force and specialists in mountain and Arctic warfare. ... Landing craft Rapière LCU 1656 departs USS Bataan (LHD-5) well deck during Hurricane Katrina relief operations. ... Antsiranana, named Diégo-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar, in Antsiranana province. ... The Fairey Albacore is a single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Fleet Air Arm. ... F4F-3 Wildcat of Lt. ... Fairey Swordfish The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. Affectionately known as the Stringbag by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the... The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ...

September 19, 1942. Allied troops disembarking from LCA-164 in Tamatave harbour. (Photographer: Lt D.C. Oulds.)

The Vichy forces, led by Governor General Armand Léon Annet, included about 8,000 troops, of whom about 6,000 were Malagasy. A large proportion of the others were Senegalese. Between 1,500 and 3,000 Vichy troops were concentrated around Diego Suarez. However, naval and air defences were relatively light and/or obsolete: eight coastal batteries, two armed merchant cruisers, two sloops, five submarines, 17 Morane-Saulnier 406 fighters and 10 Potez 63 bombers. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... The Landing Craft Assualt (LCA) was the British and Commonwealth landing craft of the Second World War. ... Toamasina (Masc. ... A Governor-General is most generally a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above ordinary governors. ... Armand Léon Annet (born 5 June 1888; died 25 April 1973) was a Governor for various colonies in French Colonial Empire. ... 19th century coastal artillery guns preserved in Suomenlinna fortress in Helsinki Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating mobile anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications. ... Auxiliary cruisers were merchant ships taken over for conversion into a vessel armed with cruiser-size guns, and employed either for convoy protection against true cruisers, or for commerce-raiding missions, where its appearance was used to trick merchant ships into approaching. ... USS Constellation, a United States Navy sloop-of-war. ... The M.S.406 was a French Armée de lAir fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. ... The Potez 630 and its derivatives were a family of multi-role twin-engined aircraft developed for the Armée de lAir in the late 1930s. ...

Following fierce fighting, Diego Suarez was surrendered on 7 May, although substantial Vichy forces withdrew to the south.

The Japanese submarines I-10, I-16 and I-20 arrived on May 29. I-10's reconnaissance plane spotted the Ramillies at anchor in Diego Suarez harbour but, the plane was seen and Ramillies changed her berth. I-20 and I-16 launched two midget submarines, one of which managed to enter the harbour and fired two torpedoes, while under depth charge attack from two corvettes. One torpedo seriously damaged Ramillies, while the second sank an oil tanker (British Loyalty, later refloated). Ramillies was later repaired in Durban and Plymouth. is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A midget submarine is a small submarine, typically with one or two crew and no on-board living accommodation. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft. ...

Lieutenant Saburo Akieda and Petty Officer Masami Takemoto beached their submarine (M-20b) at Nosy Antalikely and moved inland towards their pick-up point near Cape Amber. They were informed upon when they bought food at a village and both were killed in a firefight with Royal Marines three days later. The second midget submarine was lost at sea and the body of one its crew was washed ashore a day later. The Royal Marines (RM) are the marines and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service [2]. They are also the United Kingdoms amphibious force and specialists in mountain and Arctic warfare. ...

The land campaign

Hostilities continued at a low level for several months. During the summer of 1942, the two brigades of the British 5th Infantry Division was transferred to India. On 22 June, the East African Brigade Group (King's African Rifles) arrived on Madagascar. The South African 7th Motorized Brigade and the Rhodesian 27th Infantry Brigade (including forces from East Africa) were landed in the weeks following the arrival of the East Africans. Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British 5th Infantry Division was established in 1906 and has been active for most of the period since, including World War I and World War II. // The 5th Division was a permanently established Regular Army division that was amongst the first to be sent to France at the outbreak... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... The Kings African Rifles (KAR) was a British colonial regiment in East Africa from 1902 until the independence of the various colonies in the 1960s. ... The South African 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II. This division was formed in South Africa on 23 October 1940 with its headquarters based in Pretoria. ... The Rhodesian Army was part of the armed forces of Rhodesia. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ...

December 1942. Four Westland Lysander Mark IIIA reconnaissance planes of No. 1433 Flight RAF, based at Ivato, over typical Madagascar countryside, following the end of the campaign. (Photographer: Sgt J.D. Morris).

The 29th Brigade and 22nd Brigade Group carried out an amphibious landing on 10 September at Majunga, in the north-west, to re-launch Allied offensive operations ahead of the rainy season. Progress was slow for the Allied forces; in addition to occasional small scale clashes with enemy forces, they also encountered scores of obstacles erected on the main roads by Vichy soldiers. The Allies eventually captured the capital, Tananarive without much opposition, and then the town of Ambalavao. The last major action was at Andriamanalina on 18 October. Annet surrendered near Ilhosy, in the south of the island on 8 November.^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Westland Lysander III (SD). ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mahajanga or Majunga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... The wet season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. ... Antananarivo, population 802,000 (1997), is the capital of Madagascar, in Antananarivo province. ... Ambalavao is a city (commune urbaine) in Madagascar. ... is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Allies suffered about 500 casualties in the landing at Diego Suarez, and 30 killed and 90 wounded in the operations which followed 10 September. is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Naval order of battle

Allied

• Battleship HMS Ramillies
• Aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and Indomitable
• Cruisers HMS Hermione and Devonshire
• Destroyers HMS Active, HMS Anthony, Duncan, Inconstant, Javelin, HMS Laforey, Lightning, Lookout, HMAS Nizam, HMAS Norman, HMS Pakenham, HMS Paladin and HMS Panther.
• Frigates, corvettes and transports.

HMS Ramillies (pennant number 07) was a Revenge-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after the Battle of Ramillies. ... The fourth HMS Illustrious (R87) of the Royal Navy was an aircraft carrier, arguably the one with the most distinguished and vital career of this proud lineage. ... HMS Indomitable (R92) was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. ... For other ships of the same name, see HMS Hermione. ... HMS Devonshire was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy, that served in World War II. Devonshire was laid down by HM Dockyard at Devonport in Plymouth on 16 March 1926, launched on 22 October 1927 and completed on 18 March 1929. ... HMS Active, the tenth Active (H14), launched in 1929, was an A class destroyer. ... HMS Duncan was a D-class destroyer launched in 1931 that served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. ... HMS Inconstant (H49) was an I-class destroyer laid down as TCG Muavenet for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, purchased in September 1939 by the Royal Navy, launched on 24 February 1941 and commissioned on 24 January 1942. ... HMS Javelin (F61) was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 11 October 1937, launched on 21 December 1938 and commissioned on 10 June 1939. ... HMS Lookout was an L class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... HMAS Nizam (G38) was an N-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 27 July 1939, launched on 4 July 1940 and commissioned on 8 January 1941. ... Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Norman. ... At least five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Panther. ...

Vichy France

• Two armed merchant cruisers
• Two sloops
• Five submarines including Beveziers, Le Heros, Monge

Japan

• Submarines I-10 (with reconnaissance aircraft), I-16, I-18 (damaged by heavy seas and arrived late), I-20
• Midget submarines M-16b, M-20b

Aftermath

Free French General Paul Legentilhomme was appointed High Commissioner for Madagascar. But French control of the island was not to last much longer. Like many colonies, after World War II, Madagascar sought its independence. In 1947, the island experienced the Malagasy Uprising. This costly revolution was crushed in 1948. On 14 October 1958, about ten years later, the Malagasy Republic successfully proclaimed its independence from France. The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet... Paul Legentilhomme (Paul Louis Le Gentilhomme) (born 1884; died 1975) was an officer in the French Army during World War I and World War II. After the fall of France in 1940, he joined the forces of the Free French. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Malagasy Uprising (or Revolt of Madagascar) was an attempted revolution against the French by nationalists on the island of Madagascar between 1947 and 1948. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... For other uses, see Madagascar (disambiguation). ...

See also

• East African Campaign (World War II)
• West Africa Campaign (World War II)
• Battle of Dakar
• Battle of Gabon
• Syria-Lebanon campaign
• Invasion of French Indochina
• Operation Torch

Combatants United Kingdom Anglo-Egyptian Sudan British Somaliland British East Africa British India Gold Coast Nigeria N. Rhodesia S. Rhodesia Union of S. Africa Belgium Belgian Congo Free France Ethiopian irregulars Italy Italian East Africa Eritrea Ethiopia Italian Somaliland German Motorized Company Commanders Archibald Wavell William Platt Alan Cunningham Duke... The name West African campaign refers to two battles during World War II: the Battle of Dakar (also known as Operation Menace) and the Battle of Gabon, both of which were in late 1940. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Free France Vichy France Commanders John Cunningham Charles De Gaulle Pierre François Boisson Strength 2 battleships, 1 aircraft carrier, 5 cruisers, 10 destroyers 1 battleship, 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers, coastal emplacements Casualties 2 battleships and 2 cruisers damaged 1 destroyer sunk, 2 submarines sunk The... Combatants United Kingdom Free France Vichy France Commanders Andrew Cunningham Charles De Gaulle Pierre Koenig Marcel Tetu Casualties Unknown 1 cruiser, 1 submarine The Battle of Gabon or the Battle of Libreville was part of the West African Campaign of World War II fought in November 1940. ... Combatants Australia U.K. British India British Palestine  Czechoslovakia Government-in-Exile Free France Vichy France Mandate of Syria Mandate of Lebanon Commanders Henry Maitland Wilson Henri Dentz Strength Approximately 35,000 troops Australian: 18,000 British: 9,000 Indian: 2,000 Free French: 5,000 Between 35,000 and... Combatants Empire of Japan Vichy France Commanders Akihito Nakamura Takuma Nishimura Maurice Martin Strength 34,000 men 2,000 men Casualties  ? 800 The Invasion of French Indochina ), also known as the Vietnam Expedition, the Japanese Invasion of Vietnam, was an attempt by the Empire of Japan, during the Second Sino... Combatants United States United Kingdom Free French Forces Vichy France Commanders Dwight Eisenhower Andrew Cunningham François Darlan Strength 73,500 60,000 Casualties 479+ dead 720 wounded 1,346+ dead 1,997 wounded Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in...

External links

• Bill Stone, 1998, "Operation Ironclad: Invasion of Madagascar"
• exordio.com, ?, "Operación Ironclad" (Spanish language)
• Outline of Japanese involvement

Footnotes

1. ^ Andre Wessels, "South Africa and the War against Japan 1941-1945", in Military History Journal (South African Military History Society) v.10, no.3 (June 1996). Access date: 9 March , 2007.
2. ^ Wessels, Ibid.
3. ^ Wessels, Ibid.
4. ^ Time Magazine, Madagascar Surrenders

References

E.D.R. Harrison, "British Subversion in French East Africa, 1941-42: SOE's Todd Mission." English Historical Review, April 1999.