Following the capitulation of France in 1940, the French colony of Madagascar passed into axis hands through the Vichy admimistration. It was to all intents and purposes a military backwater until that is, the japanese began their blitzkrieg across the Pacific and Indian Oceans in December 1941. For Madagascar`s principal port San.....was large enough and deep enough to handle any battleship possessed by the Japanese High Seas Fleet. This very fact sent alarm bells ringing in London, as a japanese occupation of the island would all but sever Britain`s communications routes via The Cape and Suez to the Far East.
The plan involved landing 9,000 combat troops involving No.5 R.M. Commando, two brigade groups from the 5th Infantry Division and the 29th Independent Brigade Group, backed by light tanks and armoured cars to forestall any Japanese move against Madagascar. The initial landings, Britons first amphibious assault of the war, met stiff resistance in places but the issue was never in doubt. Diego-Suarez fell, and it was hoped that a defensive line could be established, thus leaving the Vichy French in control of the bulk of the island. However, further Japanese activity in the area forced the hand of the British, leading to a two month campaign from September to November 1942. Madagascar was handed over to the Free French in January 1943.
The battle for Diego Suarez-Antsirane took two days of bitter fighting. During the night of 17th May, it took a last resort brigade strength bayonet charge, led by the 6th Seaforth`s, to break into the French defences guarding the neck of the Antsirane Peninsular.
The Madagascar campaign offers great scope for someone of the Colin Rumford mould. There were several amphibious landings by British Commandos, Gurkhas and the suchlike against a polyglot force of French colonial, native and naval troops. Of course, the Japanese provide several "What-Ifs", from Japanese Marines fighting alongside the defenders of Diego-Suarez, to amphibious landings in aid of the Vichy French during the later campaign or after the island was controlled by the British.
I read two accounts of the battle, one in The British Army Review from about 10 years ago and whilst both stirred the blood, neither provided a coherent account of any great substance. So this scenario is a bit of a hotch-potch being more wargame than history, but a good excuse to stuff the French nevertheless.
BRITISH ORDER OF BATTLE
2nd South Lancs.
6th Seaforth Highlanders
2nd Northamptonshires
(+ 1 coy. Royal Welch Fusiliers att.)
1 coy. Gurkhas
Btn HQ: 1 Officer, 1 Radioman, 1xBoyes A/T Rifle, 1x2" Mortar, 2 men
3 Rifle Companies each: 1 Officer & 7 Riflemen
Support Company: 1x Vickers MMG w 2 crew, 1x3" Mortar w 2 crew
In Support
- 1x MkVI Tank
1x25Pdr (off table)
2x Naval Gunfire Gunfire - 105mm Battery equivalent
The Gurkhas are Elite, whilst the British are Regulars, with the possible exception of the Seaforths who could also be classed as Elite.
The defences of the Antsirane Peninsular were described as "a veritable Maginot-Minor". A mile and a half of deep trenches with copious wire were protected by a deep anti-tank ditch. The flanks were anchored by two forts beyond which were steep bushy slopes descending to mangrove swamps at the sea`s edge. The whole region as far as Antanambao is covered in thick forest bristling with pill-boxes and machine-gun posts.
The French can be deploy at will. The British must start in front of the defences between the two forts, with the exception of the 2nd South Lancs. who have outflanked Fort Bellvue and are between Point 53 and Ano Bozaka.
FRENCH ORDER OF BATTLE The French colonial troops before Antsirane probably came from the Regiment Mixte de Malagache, and by all accounts put up a good fight. It`s up to you whether to put one or two battalions in the line. I chose one only with plenty of support as an eyewitness claimed the French had plentiful MG`s, mortars and artillery.
Btn HQ: 1 Officer, 1 Signaller with Telephone, 1 F.O.O, with 1 Radioman, 2 Runners
3 Rifle Companies each: 1 Officer & 9 Riflemen
Machine-Gun Company: 1x Hotchkiss HMG w 2 crew, 1x81mm Mortar w 2 crew
Naval Company (at Radio Station)
- 1 Officer and 7 Ratings with Rifles
2x 75mm Field Gun Batteries, each: 1 x 75mm Field Gun & 3 crew
2 x HMG Platoons, each: 2 x Hotchiss HMG & 3 crew
The Malagache infantry came from two sources, Foundry Italian Colonial Infantry and Tumbling Dice WW1 Senegalese. Russian Civil War sailors stood in for the French, but Raventhorpe Miniatures will probably be able to supply all your needs in a oner if you like their figures.
The diversionary Commando raid on the port would make a neat little 1 : 1 wargame in itself, 60 commandos against a couple of hundred naval, rear echelon and territorial / militia types.
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© Copyright 1997 by Craig Martelle Publications
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