Operation Ironclad was the code name for the invasion of Madagascar, it began on May 5, 1942. Vichy French controlled Madagascar was of particular strategic importance to both the Allies and the Axis, both Japan and Germany had plans to use the island to keep the British penned in, but Churchill had other ideas.

During the operation on May 7, 1942 the Vichy French submarine Le Héros made an attempt to attack the British Fleet, however aircraft from 829 Squadron, HMS Illustrious and the corvette HMS Genista K-200 located the boat and depth charged it, the boat was forced to the surface and abandoned, she sank soon after with the loss of 22 men.

As in July of 1940 at Mers-el-Kébir, British and French forces fought each other rather than the real enemy, Prime Minister Churchill said in the House of Commons about the attack;

"We grieve that bloodshed has occurred between the troops of our two countries whose peoples at heart are united. We trust that the French nation in time will come to regard this episode as a recognizable step in the liberation of their country, including Alsace-Lorraine, from the German yoke."

The Vichy French at Diego Suarez surrendered the same day, but fighting continued for several months. Of course France was ultimately liberated and Madagascar won independence from France following the war, but only a Frenchman can say if Churchill's statement has come to pass.

Maître Mécanicien