Japanese submarines attack naval base in Madagascar

On 30 May 1942, Japanese submarines launched an attack on the Diego Suarez naval base off Madagascar. This attack was in support of the beleaguered Vichy French Forces that were attempting to repulse a combined invasion by British and South African troops. During the attack on the naval base, the Japanese managed to severely damage the British warship Ramillies and sink the oil tanker British Loyalty. It was feared that Japan would overrun all the allied colonies in the Indian Ocean, and use these colonies as bases to launch attacks on India and Africa, as well as deny the British access to the Indian Ocean. Fortunately Japan decided to direct their war effort toward the Pacific Ocean and put pressure on Australia and the United States Navy. Had they persisted in their course in the Indian  Ocean, the outcome of the Second World War could have been very different. References: Naval in the Indian Ocean 1942 (online), available at: http://www.nhminiatures.com [Accessed 17 May 2010] Battle of Madagascar (online), available at: http://en.wikipedia.org [Accessed 17 May 2010] Japanese Midget submarine attack on Sydney harbour, 30-31 May 1942 (online), available at: http://www.awm.gov.au [Accessed 17 May 2010]