Fearless Leader
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A fleshed out TL as per Request
Wake Atoll The Alamo of WWII
A Fearless Leader TL
POD: Late November/Early December 1941: Radar sets destined for Wake Island are shipped along with operators.
Part I: The Battle of Wake Island
Dec 4th 1941: Enterprise arrives at Wake. 12 planes of VMF-211 accompanied by radar equipment and operators arrive at Wake Atoll. Total American strength is around 500 military personnel
Dec 7th: Pearl Harbor attacked. United States declares war on Japan.
Dec 8th 650 hours: Wake Island receives radio transmission from Pearl Harbor. Preparations for war begin.
Dec 8th 1130 hours: 36 Japanese bombers are spotted by radar heading towards Wake from the south.
Dec 8th 1200 hours: All 12 planes of VMF-211 intercept Japanese bombers over southern Wake. The Marines take the bombers by complete surprise using their advantage in altitude to the fullest. 19 Japanese aircraft are shot down, the remainder drop their bombs in the ocean and return to Kwajalein.
Dec 9th-15th: Japanese XXIV Air flotilla duels with VMF-211 and manages to wear them down although taking heavy casualties themselves.
Dec 15th: Japanese score major victory over VMF-211 and manages to destroy or heavily damage all their remaining Wildcats. Japanese bombing raids hit Wake hard destroying Radar emplacements and many other buildings
Dec 16th: Wake sufficiently damaged, Admiral Kajikoka sets sail with Invasion force for Wake.
Dec 17th: Wake sends message to Pearl Harbor, Relief force under Fletcher sent.
Dec 18th: Japanese attempt amphibious landing at Wake. Wake surprises the Japanese by resisting savagely. Marine mechanics working overtime have repaired 3 Wildcats to a state of flight worthiness. These Wildcats along with Wake’s shore batteries manage to sink 3 Japanese Warships and damage 6 more as well as inflict 800 casualties (mostly dead).
Dec 19th: Remains of XXIV Air flotilla launch surprise attack on Wake. Last 3 Wildcats destroyed on the ground. VMF-211 disbands and forms infantry platoons.
Dec 20th: Soryu and Hiryu arrive at Roi along with a Landing Force Battalion diverted from Saipan. (Note due to stauncher resistance from the Marines said forces are requisitioned earlier)
Dec 21: Japanese set sail again for Wake
Dec 23: Japanese fleet & American relief forces arrive at Wake Island. Saratoga transfers another squadron to Wake. Air raids from the Saratoga sink 4 Japanese cruisers operating east of Wake operating without Air cover. The Battle for Wake Island begins as both Soryu and Hiryu send out patrols trying to find the Saratoga. However the Saratoga manages to evade them until dusk. Meanwhile Radar operators on Wake Island repair a single array and use it to locate the Japanese fleet.
Dec 24th: Already having the location of the Japanese fleet from Wake. The Saratoga launches a massive Dawn raid. In the resulting battle, Japanese CAP is severely mauled as are the American Torpedo bombers. Hiryu is crippled and unable to launch fighters. Japanese patrols finally manage to locate the Saratoga and an attack is launched which cripples the Saratoga. As night falls the American Carrier Enterprise arrives under the cover of night.
Dec 25th: In an amazing Christmas Day Dawn attack, Aircraft from Wake and the Enterprise hit the Japanese taskforce. The Americans promise to give the Japanese “A Christmas present they will never forgetâ€. Hiryu is sunk and the Soryu is crippled and unable to launch aircraft. Meanwhile American engineers repair the Saratoga enough to launch aircraft from her. Further American air raids sink another Cruiser and a pair of destroyers one carrying over half the Japanese invasion force. Admiral Kajikoka orders a retreat and commits seppuku.
Dec 26th: Lexington taskforce arrives at Wake Island. Lexington AG launches attack on retreating Japanese and sinks the crippled Soryu aswell as the cruiser Yubari.
(Note That Dice Rolls determined the outcome of this battle. Not my fault if it seems one sided...)
Wake Atoll The Alamo of WWII
A Fearless Leader TL
POD: Late November/Early December 1941: Radar sets destined for Wake Island are shipped along with operators.
Part I: The Battle of Wake Island
Dec 4th 1941: Enterprise arrives at Wake. 12 planes of VMF-211 accompanied by radar equipment and operators arrive at Wake Atoll. Total American strength is around 500 military personnel
Dec 7th: Pearl Harbor attacked. United States declares war on Japan.
Dec 8th 650 hours: Wake Island receives radio transmission from Pearl Harbor. Preparations for war begin.
Dec 8th 1130 hours: 36 Japanese bombers are spotted by radar heading towards Wake from the south.
Dec 8th 1200 hours: All 12 planes of VMF-211 intercept Japanese bombers over southern Wake. The Marines take the bombers by complete surprise using their advantage in altitude to the fullest. 19 Japanese aircraft are shot down, the remainder drop their bombs in the ocean and return to Kwajalein.
Dec 9th-15th: Japanese XXIV Air flotilla duels with VMF-211 and manages to wear them down although taking heavy casualties themselves.
Dec 15th: Japanese score major victory over VMF-211 and manages to destroy or heavily damage all their remaining Wildcats. Japanese bombing raids hit Wake hard destroying Radar emplacements and many other buildings
Dec 16th: Wake sufficiently damaged, Admiral Kajikoka sets sail with Invasion force for Wake.
Dec 17th: Wake sends message to Pearl Harbor, Relief force under Fletcher sent.
Dec 18th: Japanese attempt amphibious landing at Wake. Wake surprises the Japanese by resisting savagely. Marine mechanics working overtime have repaired 3 Wildcats to a state of flight worthiness. These Wildcats along with Wake’s shore batteries manage to sink 3 Japanese Warships and damage 6 more as well as inflict 800 casualties (mostly dead).
Dec 19th: Remains of XXIV Air flotilla launch surprise attack on Wake. Last 3 Wildcats destroyed on the ground. VMF-211 disbands and forms infantry platoons.
Dec 20th: Soryu and Hiryu arrive at Roi along with a Landing Force Battalion diverted from Saipan. (Note due to stauncher resistance from the Marines said forces are requisitioned earlier)
Dec 21: Japanese set sail again for Wake
Dec 23: Japanese fleet & American relief forces arrive at Wake Island. Saratoga transfers another squadron to Wake. Air raids from the Saratoga sink 4 Japanese cruisers operating east of Wake operating without Air cover. The Battle for Wake Island begins as both Soryu and Hiryu send out patrols trying to find the Saratoga. However the Saratoga manages to evade them until dusk. Meanwhile Radar operators on Wake Island repair a single array and use it to locate the Japanese fleet.
Dec 24th: Already having the location of the Japanese fleet from Wake. The Saratoga launches a massive Dawn raid. In the resulting battle, Japanese CAP is severely mauled as are the American Torpedo bombers. Hiryu is crippled and unable to launch fighters. Japanese patrols finally manage to locate the Saratoga and an attack is launched which cripples the Saratoga. As night falls the American Carrier Enterprise arrives under the cover of night.
Dec 25th: In an amazing Christmas Day Dawn attack, Aircraft from Wake and the Enterprise hit the Japanese taskforce. The Americans promise to give the Japanese “A Christmas present they will never forgetâ€. Hiryu is sunk and the Soryu is crippled and unable to launch aircraft. Meanwhile American engineers repair the Saratoga enough to launch aircraft from her. Further American air raids sink another Cruiser and a pair of destroyers one carrying over half the Japanese invasion force. Admiral Kajikoka orders a retreat and commits seppuku.
Dec 26th: Lexington taskforce arrives at Wake Island. Lexington AG launches attack on retreating Japanese and sinks the crippled Soryu aswell as the cruiser Yubari.
(Note That Dice Rolls determined the outcome of this battle. Not my fault if it seems one sided...)