OK i made a mistake on the math:
I take Hawaii with 3 Inf and 1 fighter
plus attack the BB with 2 fighters, 2 cv and 1 dd
Last fighter takes a shot at the west coast DD/transport.
I think I will lose the DD and at worst a fighter.
So i got 3 fighters , 2 CV, losing a destroyer…and possibly i got a 4th fighter
so its defense is either 16+6 or 12+6… 22 or 18
US has got 2 BOM and 3 Fighters and CV+DD 8+9+2+2= 21
Thats close to an even battle. Also the allocations allow Japan a better position because the American player cant lose his carrier or he also loses a fighter that has no place to land.
I see that’s its too close and Japan cant afford to exchange.
So i now favor just bringing in the planes and the DD for soaker and keeping the carriers back as in my original plan.
2 Carriers to Sea of Japan and fighters to Hawaii SZ plus DD
to protect the new transport.