Operation Ironclad: Battle for Madagascar, 1942

Operation Ironclad is a wargame covering the British invasion of the island of Madagascar in 1942. At this time, Vichy French forces controlled Madagascar with the potential of turning the island into a base for Axis attacks against Allied sea lanes in the western Indian Ocean. Ironclad was the first phase of the invasion which began in May and concluded in November.

The game has two players: British and Vichy French. Each player is provided with cardboard pieces called “units,” representing land, air and naval formations. Players move their units on the map to engage enemy forces and take critical objectives. Each player has a set of Operations markers which enhance unit actions and take special actions.

Overall, the game system models operations which were conducted in sometimes inhospitable terrain. Most actions were along major lines of communications for control of critical towns, ports, and airfields. Many of the combat losses were due to disease (British) and desertion (Vichy French), and this is reflected in the combat system.