Operation Musketeer
Military history records no less than three plans, all called Operation Musketeer:
1. During World War II, Musketeer was a four-phased plan to liberate the Philippine Islands developed by General Douglas MacArthur?s staff as part of the larger Leyte, Luzon and Mindanao.
Never executed as such, although the general concept was carried through. The landings on Leyte lured the Japanese air and sea fleets into the climatic Battle of Leyte Gulf, the militarily significant island of Luzon was taken by the King and Mike invasions.
The rest of the archipelago was liberated by the Victor landings.
4. Operation Musketeer The Anglo-French invasion of Egypt to capture the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis. Conducted in early October, 1956 in rough coordination with the an Israeli armored thrust into the Sinai (Operation Kadesh).
The Nasser government was seeking political control over the canal, an effort resisted by the Europeans. Although landing forces quickly established control over major canal facilities, the Egyptians were able to sink obstacles in the canal, rendering it unusable.
Worldwide reaction against this move was massive and negative. The United States led in condemnations of the action at the United Nations and in other forums, this marked a sharp break in the ?special relationship? between the United States and Britain. Due to political considerations, the Anglo-French forces were withdrawn in early November.
