"Menace" to "Ironclad": The British Operations against Dakar (1940) and Madagascar (1942)

TY - JOUR

T1 - "Menace" to "Ironclad"

T2 - The British Operations against Dakar (1940) and Madagascar (1942)

AU - Benbow, Tim

PY - 2011/7

Y1 - 2011/7

N2 - Two relatively unknown British operations during the Second World War-Operation "Menace" against Dakar (1940) and Operation "Ironclad" against Madagascar (1942)-offer a fascinating contrast, the former being a humiliating failure and the latter a striking success. This article seeks to explain the dramatic difference in their outcomes. Both were directed against Vichy France, with which Britain was not at war, and were undertaken at a time of particularly scarce resources and competing priorities, resulting in great challenges for political leaders and military planners. Unlike "Menace," "Ironclad" achieved the desired objective at minimum cost to either side, largely by securing and exploiting surprise.

AB - Two relatively unknown British operations during the Second World War-Operation "Menace" against Dakar (1940) and Operation "Ironclad" against Madagascar (1942)-offer a fascinating contrast, the former being a humiliating failure and the latter a striking success. This article seeks to explain the dramatic difference in their outcomes. Both were directed against Vichy France, with which Britain was not at war, and were undertaken at a time of particularly scarce resources and competing priorities, resulting in great challenges for political leaders and military planners. Unlike "Menace," "Ironclad" achieved the desired objective at minimum cost to either side, largely by securing and exploiting surprise.

M3 - Article

VL - 75

SP - 769

EP - 809

JO - JOURNAL OF MILITARY HISTORY

JF - JOURNAL OF MILITARY HISTORY

IS - 3

M1 - N/A

ER -