What would a Japanese fleet takeover of the Vichy island of Madagascar spell for the British Empire in WW2?
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This is a thing I was lately very interested in, so I decided to do a little research on the topic. Regarding Operation Ironclad, which was the British Invasion of Vichy Madagascar in 1942 to keep this from happening, I thought discussion on the matter would bring some interesting views.
I found out that there was a South Atlantic and Eastern [Indian Ocean] fleet that was a part of the Royal Navy of the British Empire.
Strength of Atlantic and Eastern Fleets (British/French)
~5 battleships
~2 heavy cruisers
~8 light cruisers
~6 merchant cruisers
~50 air-crafts
~15,000 troops [36th Division]
Strength of Japanese Fleets (Vichy/Japan)
~4 battleships
~7 light cruisers
~19 destroyers
~5 submarines
~300 air-crafts
~6 fleet carriers
~12,000+ troops
What I am asking: What would you think of a Japanese takeover of Vichy Madagascar? It would require a station set up and a large accruing of the Japanese Navy to the Indian Ocean, that would greatly startle the British Empire. But like with Hawaii, is it possible for the Japanese Economy, strained by the low oil i.e. means-for-production, could commit such an operation to help the Italian Empire in the middle east and even possibly future operations in the Suez by creating a naval station on the island. Would it cause a turning point for the axis?
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Hello there!
The post was edited 3 times, last by Oxalaia ().