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 Reno V plan.
The four phases were (in sequence): King, Love, Mike, and Victor. This was a very complex plan that would have required a huge number of troops and landing craft. It might be viewed as a “dream plan,” not taking into account the reality of troops, ships and other resources available. It was called Operation Montclair in some documents.
2. Operation Musketeer II', A revision of the basic plan, deleting a number of the landings.
3. Operation Musketeer III, The final revision of the Musketeer plan. Due to limited resources, the number of landings were further reduced to focus on the landings on 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. 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 Due to political considerations, the Anglo-French forces were withdrawn in early November.
