@special:
I’ve been thinking about a similar thing for the Europe game, but using the Atlantic starting transporter, it reaches South Africa in around turn 4 (just in time for war, and can use the NB there to go on to the middle east).
Might work for global as well, though it might be too slow. Will need to try it.
Actually this would be a good move to use in conjunction with the Philippine Persia grab in the global game. The Philippine units claim Persia on turn four, and then the East US units link up with them on turn five to conquer Iraq with 5 infantry and an artillery or tank. This way the US could get started up in the Middle East a turn sooner.
Regarding some earlier doubts as to whether the transport will make it, the US can follow this path to get to Persia on turn 3: sz57-75-80. Japan would only be able to stop the transport on turn 2 if they were using an India Crush strategy and had bombers and an air base in Kwangsi, aircraft carriers in sz 36, or if they moved their Caroline navy towards the Dutch East Indies. If this is the case, America may still want to shoot the units out there to get themselves into the war earlier.