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The Madagascar Campaign
During the Madagascar campaign, the Allies clashed with the Vichy French defenders on the island, but, in reality, the campaign was directed against the Japanese. With the fall of France on June 22nd, 1940, Madagascar came under the control of pro-Vichy elements. Although of little commercial value, the harbour of Diego Suarez (Antsirane), at the northern tip of the island, was of great importance for controlling the Indian Ocean and there was a considerable risk that the Japanese could occupy the island. In an effort to prevent this, Prime Minister (Field Marshal) J.C. Smuts used all his influence to try to persuade the Allied commanders that it was in the interest of the Allies to invade the island. There was, after all, evidence that Japanese submarines were being replenished at Diego Suarez. Furthermore, it later became known that an agreement had been signed between Germany and Japan, whereby Madagascar would fall under Japanese control. The Japanese therefore planned to use the island as a base for operations stretching from the Arabian Sea to the Cape.
The ensuing Allied invasion plan was designated “Operation Ironclad” and, as part of the general strategy of the war against Japan, the UDF participated in the invasion. The Union also provided base facilities for the Task Force, and Units of the SAAF did photographic reconnaissance over the island in March and April 1942. The land invasion force consisted of the British 29th Infantry Brigade, 17th Infantry Brigade & 13th Infantry Brigade, No. 5 Commando, 7th South African Motorised Brigade (supported by locally manufactured Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars) & East African Brigade.
The SAAF contingent had 6 Glen Martin Maryland bombers and 11 Bristol Beaufort bombers. The soldiers were transported in 8 large Troop Ships and the accompanying British Naval Task Force consisted of the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies” & Queen Elizabeth-Class Battleship HMS “Warspite”, British Illustrious-Class Aircraft Carrier HMS “Illustrious” & HMS “Indomitable”, 3 Cruisers, 13 Destroyers, 8 Corvettes, 4 Mine-sweepers & 16 Auxiliary vessels. With the exception of the HMS “Indomitable”, which joined them in the Mozambique Channel, the Task Force set sail from Durban between April 25th & April 28th, 1942. While in Durban, the Task Force had received immense support from the UDF and from South Africa in general.
The first wave of the British 29th Infantry Brigade and No. 5 Commando landed in assault craft on May 5th, 1942, follow-up waves were by the British 17th Infantry Brigade & 13th Infantry Brigade & Royal Marines. All were carried ashore by landing craft to Courrier Bay and Ambararata Bay, just west of the major port of Diego Suarez, at the northern tip of Madagascar. A diversionary attack was staged to the east. Air cover was provided mainly by Fairey Albacore and Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers which attacked Vichy shipping. They were supported by Grumman Martlets fighters from the Fleet Air Arm. A small number of SAAF planes assisted. The defending 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 rest 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: 8 coastal Batteries, 2 armed Merchant Cruisers, 2 Sloops, 5 Submarines, 17 Morane-Saulnier 406 fighters & 10 Potez 63 bombers.
The French defence was highly effective in the beginning and the main Allied force was brought to a halt by the morning of May 6th, 1942. The deadlock was broken when the A-Class Destroyer HMS “Anthony” dashed straight past the harbour defences of Diego Suarez and landed 50 Royal Marines amidst the Vichy rear area. The Marines created disturbance in the town out of all proportion to their numbers and the Vichy defence was soon broken. Diego Suarez was surrendered on May 7th, 1942, although substantial Vichy forces withdrew to the south.
The Japanese submarines I-10, I-16 & I-20 from SubRon 8 arrived three weeks later on May 29th, 1942. I-10’s reconnaissance plane spotted the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies”at anchor in Diego Suarez harbor but the plane was spotted and HMS “Ramillies” changed her berth. On the night of May 30th / 31st, 1942, I-20 & I-16 launched two midget submarines, one of which managed to enter the harbor and fired two torpedoes while under depth charge attack from two Corvettes. One torpedo seriously damaged the HMS “Ramillies”, while the second sank the 6993 ton Oil Tanker British Loyalty. HMS “Ramillies” was later repaired in Durban and Plymouth.
The crew of M-20b midget submarines, Lt. S. Akieda & Petty Officer M. Takemoto, beached their craft 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 crew of M-16b midget submarine was lost at sea and the body of one of its crew was found washed ashore a day later.
The first South African troops of the 7th South African Motorised Brigade under Brig. G.T. Senescall only landed at Diego Suarez on June 25th, 1942.
They moved into camp at Sakaramy, where they prepared defensive positions. The Rhodesian 27th Infantry Brigade also joined the South Africans in Madagascar on August 8th, 1942. In September 1942, the South Africans participated in a large-scale operation aimed at capturing the southern half of Madagascar, while a Company of 1st Pretoria Highlanders occupied the small island of Nossi Be after a preliminary bombardment by the British Abdiel Class Minelayer HMS “Manxman”. No serious opposition was encountered anywhere, but climatic and topographical conditions were arduous and many soldiers suffered from malaria. On October 31st, 1942, a South African armoured car regiment spearheaded the final attack on Fianarantsoa, which led to the French surrender on November 6th, 1942.
During the campaign, the Allies lost at least 107 killed and 280 wounded, as well as many who died from diseases. The French lost some 150 killed and 500 wounded, while most of the remaining troops were captured. The South African Army’s only fatal casualties were 4 men who died from tropical diseases, while 14 others were wounded.
On May 13th, 1942, shortly after the commencement of the Allied invasion, the German Naval High Command suggested that the Japanese launch a counter-attack. This was, however, not contemplated and after the Japanese defeat during the battle of Midway June 4th – 6th, 1942 this possibility was eliminated. The objectives of the Madagascar campaign were achieved and, by denying the Japanese the use of the island and, at the same time, ensuring that the Vichy French would also not interfere with Allied sea traffic in the Indian Ocean, the campaign undoubtedly contributed towards the eventual Allied success in the Far East, as well as in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
During the Madagascar campaign, the Allies clashed with the Vichy French defenders on the island, but, in reality, the campaign was directed against the Japanese. With the fall of France on June 22nd, 1940, Madagascar came under the control of pro-Vichy elements. Although of little commercial value, the harbour of Diego Suarez (Antsirane), at the northern tip of the island, was of great importance for controlling the Indian Ocean and there was a considerable risk that the Japanese could occupy the island. In an effort to prevent this, Prime Minister (Field Marshal) J.C. Smuts used all his influence to try to persuade the Allied commanders that it was in the interest of the Allies to invade the island. There was, after all, evidence that Japanese submarines were being replenished at Diego Suarez. Furthermore, it later became known that an agreement had been signed between Germany and Japan, whereby Madagascar would fall under Japanese control. The Japanese therefore planned to use the island as a base for operations stretching from the Arabian Sea to the Cape.
The ensuing Allied invasion plan was designated “Operation Ironclad” and, as part of the general strategy of the war against Japan, the UDF participated in the invasion. The Union also provided base facilities for the Task Force, and Units of the SAAF did photographic reconnaissance over the island in March and April 1942. The land invasion force consisted of the British 29th Infantry Brigade, 17th Infantry Brigade & 13th Infantry Brigade, No. 5 Commando, 7th South African Motorised Brigade (supported by locally manufactured Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars) & East African Brigade.
The SAAF contingent had 6 Glen Martin Maryland bombers and 11 Bristol Beaufort bombers. The soldiers were transported in 8 large Troop Ships and the accompanying British Naval Task Force consisted of the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies” & Queen Elizabeth-Class Battleship HMS “Warspite”, British Illustrious-Class Aircraft Carrier HMS “Illustrious” & HMS “Indomitable”, 3 Cruisers, 13 Destroyers, 8 Corvettes, 4 Mine-sweepers & 16 Auxiliary vessels. With the exception of the HMS “Indomitable”, which joined them in the Mozambique Channel, the Task Force set sail from Durban between April 25th & April 28th, 1942. While in Durban, the Task Force had received immense support from the UDF and from South Africa in general.
The first wave of the British 29th Infantry Brigade and No. 5 Commando landed in assault craft on May 5th, 1942, follow-up waves were by the British 17th Infantry Brigade & 13th Infantry Brigade & Royal Marines. All were carried ashore by landing craft to Courrier Bay and Ambararata Bay, just west of the major port of Diego Suarez, at the northern tip of Madagascar. A diversionary attack was staged to the east. Air cover was provided mainly by Fairey Albacore and Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers which attacked Vichy shipping. They were supported by Grumman Martlets fighters from the Fleet Air Arm. A small number of SAAF planes assisted. The defending 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 rest 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: 8 coastal Batteries, 2 armed Merchant Cruisers, 2 Sloops, 5 Submarines, 17 Morane-Saulnier 406 fighters & 10 Potez 63 bombers.
The French defence was highly effective in the beginning and the main Allied force was brought to a halt by the morning of May 6th, 1942. The deadlock was broken when the A-Class Destroyer HMS “Anthony” dashed straight past the harbour defences of Diego Suarez and landed 50 Royal Marines amidst the Vichy rear area. The Marines created disturbance in the town out of all proportion to their numbers and the Vichy defence was soon broken. Diego Suarez was surrendered on May 7th, 1942, although substantial Vichy forces withdrew to the south.
The Japanese submarines I-10, I-16 & I-20 from SubRon 8 arrived three weeks later on May 29th, 1942. I-10’s reconnaissance plane spotted the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies”at anchor in Diego Suarez harbor but the plane was spotted and HMS “Ramillies” changed her berth. On the night of May 30th / 31st, 1942, I-20 & I-16 launched two midget submarines, one of which managed to enter the harbor and fired two torpedoes while under depth charge attack from two Corvettes. One torpedo seriously damaged the HMS “Ramillies”, while the second sank the 6993 ton Oil Tanker British Loyalty. HMS “Ramillies” was later repaired in Durban and Plymouth.
The crew of M-20b midget submarines, Lt. S. Akieda & Petty Officer M. Takemoto, beached their craft 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 crew of M-16b midget submarine was lost at sea and the body of one of its crew was found washed ashore a day later.
The first South African troops of the 7th South African Motorised Brigade under Brig. G.T. Senescall only landed at Diego Suarez on June 25th, 1942.
They moved into camp at Sakaramy, where they prepared defensive positions. The Rhodesian 27th Infantry Brigade also joined the South Africans in Madagascar on August 8th, 1942. In September 1942, the South Africans participated in a large-scale operation aimed at capturing the southern half of Madagascar, while a Company of 1st Pretoria Highlanders occupied the small island of Nossi Be after a preliminary bombardment by the British Abdiel Class Minelayer HMS “Manxman”. No serious opposition was encountered anywhere, but climatic and topographical conditions were arduous and many soldiers suffered from malaria. On October 31st, 1942, a South African armoured car regiment spearheaded the final attack on Fianarantsoa, which led to the French surrender on November 6th, 1942.
During the campaign, the Allies lost at least 107 killed and 280 wounded, as well as many who died from diseases. The French lost some 150 killed and 500 wounded, while most of the remaining troops were captured. The South African Army’s only fatal casualties were 4 men who died from tropical diseases, while 14 others were wounded.
On May 13th, 1942, shortly after the commencement of the Allied invasion, the German Naval High Command suggested that the Japanese launch a counter-attack. This was, however, not contemplated and after the Japanese defeat during the battle of Midway June 4th – 6th, 1942 this possibility was eliminated. The objectives of the Madagascar campaign were achieved and, by denying the Japanese the use of the island and, at the same time, ensuring that the Vichy French would also not interfere with Allied sea traffic in the Indian Ocean, the campaign undoubtedly contributed towards the eventual Allied success in the Far East, as well as in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
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