Carrier aviation in the Madagascar invasion

Illustrious and Indomitable supported the Madagascar invasion because Britain feared that French authorities might surrender the island to Japan, following the loss of Indochina. A Japanese foothold there would threaten the shipping route around Africa that supplied Egypt and the North African campaign. Fighting in the Mediterranean had blocked the shorter passage through Suez, forcing supplies onto this longer route. Britain therefore had to sustain the North African campaign around the Cape while trying to reopen the Mediterranean for faster communications with the Far East. Illustrious's aircraft attacked French naval units and protected the invasion force.