Eastern US to sea zone 9 = 1 move?

If US goes full against Germany, Japan can threaten USA from the pacific coast or Japan can aid Europe with it’s large fighter corp.

I like the fighters in europe, easier to achieve as the ftrs have the range, japan can afford to give them away and buy additional ones.

Not sure what Germany is doing in your game as you really don’t speculate.  Tanks?  buying ftrs is a good move to help the defense of fortress europe and keep the allied fleet honest.

Yes.

As per AA 50 Rulebook:

"Phase 5: Noncombat Move

Sea Units: Sea units can move through any friendly sea zone. They cannot move through hostile sea zones."

“Sea Zones: Sea zones are either friendly or hostile. Friendly sea zones contain no enemy surface warships. Hostile sea zones contain enemy surface warships.”

Seems like you should be fine. SZ12 is not a hostile sea zone because it has no enemy ships in it and your bombardment does not make it a hostile zone so you should be good to move the destroyer anywhere you please. Intuitively, since there is no real “battle” taking place at sea, the ships would not have to be in formation and the destroyer may never even come in contact with the other ships. It would not need to be present for their bombardment so it should be free to travel wherever it is directed.

Hope that helps.

Reason I like buying subs for my japan is cheep fodder.  Usually if US goes pacific i’m stalling to hold on to my money islands just long enough to crush russia, not to actually fight the US.  Because of that, cost is everything to me.

If I wanted an actual show down i’ll focus on fighters (as my 3 carriers can typically allow 12 to attack if based properly) and bombers with a sprinkling of DDs.

G1 …1 sub SZ7 to SZ9
1 sub SZ7 , bomber from germany and fighter from norway attack SZ 2
1 fighter from NWEurope ,1 fighter from germany attacks SZ12
1 sub 1 cruiser from SZ5 attacks SZ6
2 tanks 3 inf 1 art from poland…1 inf 1 art from germany…1 tank from CH attack the baltic
1 tank from CH ,1 fighter 1 inf  from poland 1 inf from BR attack east poland
2 inf 1 art 2 tanks attack ukraine
transport 1 inf 1 tank from france to libya and (1 inf fro MA to libya if the german fighter is lost)let the italians soften egypt attack G2.
defend france if any british tranny’s survive,2 inf to poland.
activate the 4 tanks 2inf and art that you purchased

The only time I build an IC with the UK in India is in the '42 setup with huge Pacific support by the USA (as I always do). In '41 I am strongly against the India IC (as I’ve mentioned before in this forum). The difference is obvious: 1941 Japan has 5 transports and can easily take India J2, even with the US going all out in the Pacific, there’s just not enough starting power for the allies. 1942 however, it is much more difficult for Japan to get to India with enough to take and hold it. The US Pacific fleet in 42 is strong and when made stronger turn 1 can cause the Japanese to stay at home for a few turns; thus allowing the UK to protect the IC in India.