OPERATION IRONCLAD
On 5 May British troops landed on Madagascar, held at the time by Vichy French forces. Though Charles de Gaulle had requested Free French forces be used in taking the island, Churchill pressed ahead with his plan to seize Madagascar, which was defended by Vichy forces including a sizable number of local Madagascans. The British targeted the island to prevent it threatening Allied shipping lanes, potentially serving as a base for Japanese submarines.