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Written by Hanna M. Laney
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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 Allied troops disembarking at Tamatave Harbour
Along the eastern coast of Africa, a largely rural island exists, where the estimated gross domestic product is far less than many American corporations’ yearly gross profit. This island is Madagascar, and as you may have heard about the island, you probably have not heard anything important regarding its history.
Deeply entrenched in the fighting of WWII, Allied forces looked warily
to the Vichy French colonial island as a geographic threat to the only
Allied route into the Middle East, via the eastern coast of Africa and
the eventual use of the Suez Canal.
Allied officials feared that Japanese submarine forces, which had
moved into the Indian Ocean in various expeditions, would take
advantage of the pro-German island as a strategic port for an eventual
occupation of the African coast, suffocating the British’s ability to
ship goods and military supplies to and from the Middle East. Allied
forces decided to take control of the island, by ousting the Vichy
government with a forcible military operation.
The expedition would be known as Operation Ironclad, and would include
both British Naval forces and ground troops. On 5 May 1942 Operation
Ironclad began and two British aircraft carriers, HMS Illustrious and
HMS Indomitable landed at the port city of Ambararata. Along with them
arrived the 2nd Battalion and the HMS Karanja. The South African Air
Force provided reconnaissance before the mission and the
out-of-commission HMS Ramillies provided additional assistance. The
heat was oppressive and morale among British soldiers was waning as
they were feeling the draining effects of life at sea.
 Soldiers landing at Tamatave
Fighting erupted again on 29 May and Japanese submarines arrived to aid
the Vichy power. For the entire summer, fighting continued. The 22nd
East African Brigade Group, the South African 7th Motorized Brigade and
the Rhodesian 27th Infantry Brigade aided the British.
The operation was later put into two phases, the first of which
included everything from the first landing at Ambararata to the summer
of fighting, and the second phase, which was set to begin.
On 10 September the 29th and 22nd Brigade groups launched an amphibious
attack on the port city of Majunga, located in northwest Madagascar.
Subsequent amphibious landings at Tamataue, the old capital of
Tananarive and the nearby town of Ambalavao led to British control with
little resistance from Gov. Annet’s combined army.
A final landing at Tulear was enough for British troops to declare
victory and control over the island. However, Gov. Annet called for a
surge of counteroffensive forces. These forces were quickly defeated
at a final skirmish at Andriamanalina.
Ultimate surrender occurred on 5 November 1942 near the town of
Ilhosy. The final British and Commonwealth casualty toll was 620
soldiers. The Vichy count is unknown.
This battle, although obscure and seemingly forgotten in the collective
history of a war with many memorable moments, serves as a lesson as to
the power of perceived geographic land value. Madagascar’s prime
location along the African coast placed its value much higher than
anyone would suspect under other circumstances. Operation Ironclad
joins the legions of battles in which geography is paramount to the
fight. It is just one example of a lesson which history has taught
time and time again. Desired goals coupled with geographic advantage
turn obscure lands into hotbeds of complex and deep-rooted
international tensions. Operation Ironclad may be just a single moment
in a massive, multi-front war. However, its geographic principle as
well as its mix of varied national army forces places it in the unique
position as a case study of concentrated proxy fighting in a string of
violent international tension.
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