Wake Island (Battlefield 1942)

Wake Island is a map in Battlefield 1942, and was the map included in the Battlefield 1942 demo.

It is a Pacific theater map, contested between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC). There are 5 flags, all held at the beginning of the game by the USMC. The Japanese must launch an amphibious attack from their waiting fleet.

Overview
Japanese forces start with more reinforcement tickets than the USMC, but are at a slow ticket-bleed until they manage to control at least one flag. If all flags are captured by the Japanese, American forces will lose their tickets extremely quickly, losing over 10 tickets per second, usually resulting in immediate defeat.

Wake Island is characterized by its unique horseshoe-like shape, which makes for a narrow battlefield. As such, there is usually always a certain frontline that can only be displaced by brute force or by entering through a different leg of the island.

Briefing
''With its attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan openly declared war on the United States, sinking or severely crippling a significant number of US battleships and destroying a large number of aircraft. To fully leverage the element of surprise, the Japanese fleet is now quickly advancing on other key targets throughout the Pacific. One such target is Wake Island, a small but highly strategic piece of land situated at approximately the mid-point between Tokyo and Hawaii. Earlier this year, a small US garrison began construction of air and naval bases on Wake. These units will now be put to the supreme test of defending their unfinished bases against a fiercely determined and well-trained opponent. Sure to be outnumbered and outgunned, this small force must execute a precise strategy in order to have any hope of holding off the Imperial Fleet.''

Japanese Fleet
At the start of the game, possessing no capture points, the Japanese forces spawn at the Japanese fleet, consisting of an aircraft carrier and destroyer, each with landing craft. The ships are movable, but in singleplayer the destroyer is initially located off the island's South coast, near the 'Landing Beach' control point (within range of the Landing Beach's defgun), while the aircraft carrier is positioned at the narrow entrance to the lagoon in the North West (within range of the North Western and South Western defguns). In multiplayer, both ships are located where the aircraft carrier is in singleplayer.

Landing Beach
Usually the point of initial engagement, this is the closest part of the island to the Japanese fleet (in singleplayer) and makes an ideal location for an amphibious landing (other suitable locations are present, in the South East corner of the lagoon near the Airbase, at the North West and South West defgun positions and on the Eastern coast between the North Base and Airfield). Located on the island's Southern limb, West of the Airfield. Like all points on the map, it is initially American controlled. Two tanks spawn at the Landing Beach on the road behind the beach and overlooking bunker. A coastal defgun is located here, pointed at the Japanese fleet.

Airfield
Wake Island features an airfield, located in the island's South Eastern corner, where the island's southern and northern limbs meet. Spawning 3 fighter planes, a tank and a jeep, it also houses a defgun, overlooking the atoll's lagoon. Initially controlled by the US forces, it is a key Japanese target for potentially disabling the defensive US forces. While under Japanese control, Japanese forces also have ultimate air superiority, with no US opportunity to launch aircraft.

South Base and coast
The South Base is the furthest West control point of the island's southern limb, initially under US control, it is located on the other side of the Landing Beach to the Airfield. It spawns a tank, a jeep and an APC.

To the West of the base is a short bridge from the main island to a smaller island. Located at the far West end of this island are a defgun and a Willys MB.

Village, North Base and Coast
To the North of the Airfield is a stretch of island leading to another limb, heading West parallel to the Southern limb. At the corner of these two limbs is the initially US controlled North Base. Home to an AA gun and defgun, it also spawns a jeep and an APC.

To the West of this is another initially American control point, the Village. Home to multiple buildings, it spawns a jeep and a tank.

Similar to the Southern coast, to the West of the Village, at the far West of the island's horseshoe are a defgun and a Willys MB.

Outcomes
"The capture of Wake Island will long be remembered as another glorious victory for the Imperial Forces of Japan. Like the strike on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces overwhelmed the Americans by surprising them with superior naval and air power. Japan's fearless carrier-based pilots led the assault on Wake, demonstrating once again why they are the world's best pilots."

- Japanese victory

"After such a glorious victory at Pearl Harbor, it's difficult to explain this surprising defeat at Wake Island. The Imperial Japanese fleet has stumbled badly in its inability to capture a key strategic base from such a small US force. Inexplicably, the Japanese commanders were unable to take advantage of their superior firepower and the momentum built by Pearl Harbor. It is unlikely that any Japanese commander going into battle with US forces will take his opponent so lightly as did the commander of this force."

- Japanese defeat

"Though vastly outnumbered, the small US force couldn't be outfought. Coming so soon after Pearl Harbor, this important victory allows the US to maintain a vital position in the Pacific. It also serves to let the Japanese know that the United States refuses to roll over after Pearl Harbor. In addition to the strategic implication of holding Wake Island, the victory provides a huge morale boost to US troops and its Allies everywhere."

- American victory

"Though the small US force on Wake Island fought hard, it could not stop the Japanese attack on Wake Island. With Pearl Harbor still smoldering, Wake Island captured, and other key targets under siege, the Imperial Fleet looks to be in a strong position to control the entire Pacific."

- American defeat