Hey first things first, Hi first post !!
I absolutely adore Wake Island, I've got over 600 hours on it, I know every knook and cranny, I agree with a lot of what I've read in this thread and obviously disagree with a lot, but my recipe for a great wake island experience is as follows.
Global pointers, In no particular order.
1) Good admins with a no rape policy on the essex (including arty).
2) 24 players max.
3) Squads and Good Pilots on both teams.
4) Spot everything !!!
5) Good pilots that are taking every vehicle out ? WALK !!!!
6) Use beaches in vehicles
7) Bridge down ?? A tank will make the crossing in the water if you can't find an engie
8) Hope and prey yer commander is half decent.
And some of my tips would be for US side. (remember I only play 24 max)
1) The high flying B/H spawn point.
2) Boats on far perimeter of map.
3) Jet taxi to beach.
4) Always spawn on the Island when ever possible.
5) Defend your flags, (especially the airfield if you cap it)
6) Stop the J10's and attack choppers taking off with the f35 or long range Tv shots
7) When dogfighting the j10's, get up their arse in bomb mode, get real close (most pilots don't use rear view in my experience) give'em a 2 second burst on the m/g, switch to missile get a lock and let them have it. If they get a lock on you and you have no clue where they are or can't shake them, head for an enemy flag, bail and try and cap it, become a squad leader if you aren't already and use the invite.
For China.
1) Defend the airfield.
2) Place mines under any vehicles that are left standing, c4 tanks and stuff at airfield if unused.
3) Don't attack the fooking carrier. Period !! you'll have a much better game in the long run.
4) AA is effective, use it. even if it makes the enemy flare, thats good for yer pilots.
5) Going back to defending the airfield, use any method no matter how "underhand", if yer a pilot, go sniper, clay the flag before getting yer j10, C4 it and blow it even if yer miles away, fook the tk's
6) The lmg's are actually quite useful
7) Down to 1 flag and getting raped ? take a long swim and hope the other commanders gone to sleep.
Got loads more tips but I'm out of the mode now.
With 24 player maps with 300 tickets this map is amazing whatever team yer on, I've seen some games swing 1 way to the other 6, 7, 8 times in a match, the adrenaline is always pumping !! anyway thats my experiences of wake island
over and out.