WWII What If (ROB): The Battle of Wake Island

[PhantomVX2000]

So, one of the ROBs decided to be more sympathetic toward the defenders and made things more interesting by handwaving modern WWII gears into the existence or making some changes:

- All six 5”/51 shore batteries have been replaced with land-version 12”/50 Mark 8 guns. They are now housed in heavily reinforced bunkers.
- As for the anti-aircraft defense, 90mm/53L M1 guns replace all twelve 76mm/50L M3 guns, and they are guided by SCR-584 microwave radars.
- 100 .50cal M2 heavy machine gun
- 200 .30-06 M1917A1 machine guns
- 500 M1A1 Thompson submachine guns
- 450 M1918 BARs
- 2,000 M1 Garand rifles
- 40 81mm mortars
- 12 M3 half-tracks with quad .50cal HMGs
- 6 M19 GMC with dual 40mm guns

The ROB also made sure the defenders including the civilian contractors know how to use them and maintain them competently. The facilities on the Wake Island are now located underground with an extensive tunnel network. The defenders are very well-supplied with their stockpile lasting them for at least two years.

As usual, the USN's Task Force 14 wouldn't come to rescue/reinforce the Wake Island due to the fear of losses. They were ordered to turn away upon receiving an intel report that two IJN carriers and two battleships were operating near the island.

So what happens? Could the defender fend off the Japanese invaders?

[Desert Fox]

Being how long it took the United States to dislodge Japanese defenders from islands, my gut reaction is that a less prepared Japanese force would have far more problems.

[DonBosco]

They fended them off the first time, this will just make it even more ludicrous.

[primer]

Seeing as how hard it was for the Japs to do this first time round, I don't think they'll be able to even land their troops with this new equipment.

[hyperion51]

The second invasion is called off on account of the first invasion attempt being sort of on the sunk side.

Even if the second invasion works, the butcher's bill will be staggering, to say the least.

[Alamo]

Wake Island turns into an even larger propaganda victory. I wouldn't be surprised if it holds out for the whole war.

[Apocal]

Our response would have been abysmal, this was still the chicken with it's head cut off phase for us, although it's possible the Japanese would have withdrawn of their own accord if they believed we were going to make an earnest effort. Or maybe they would have stayed and fought their decisive battle right then and there, who knows?

OTH, they were just coming off the Pearl Harbor operation and fuel had to be getting on the thin side for them.

And I thought the Japanese at Wake Island held out until the end of the war OTL?

EDIT: Because I missed one sentence of the OP.