The rules seem clear to me that you have only 2 options, 1. Stay and battle the Jap destroyer or 2. Leave the hostile sea zone and cannot move into another hostile sea zone. Right? The other 2 rules in the rulebook are for troop transports correct?
As @Wittmann said. There are no “Transport-only” rules included in the “Sea Units Starting in Hostile Se Zones”-rules. Of course the transport is the only unit allowed to load, but the movement itself is allowed to every sea unit. In general it is the nature of a Combat Move to end in a hostile seazone to conduct combat there. The “Sea Units Starting in Hostile Sea Zones”-rules is a specification and somehow extension.
Thanks, guys. I have played some G40 1st edition/Alpha a few years ago, but I haven’t played any A&A since then, so my memory of the rules is a bit rusty. Did subs have 2 attack, 1 defense in G40 1st edition? I recall that they used to have 2 attack, 2 defense at some point…
Japan needs to take Hawaii or Sydney to get a VC win, thats all you need to do with the US in the Pacific - stop either of those from happening, spend the rest of your resources sending the US into N.Africa, and once big enough Rome. Italy is going to have to choose between pulling back from taking Egypt or taking the chance the combine UK/US forces take Rome as early as round 5/6
I am always tempted to use this strategy with the allies. There is however always one thing which holds me from doing so: the Mongolian forces - if Japan can activate these units, I think this will tip the balance on the pacific board in favor of the Axis.
Nevertheless, It would be a disaster for Germany to defend another border, which is so close to france and the US at the same time…