If you do not do Pearl (and I have played with and without a Pearl J1), then in a KGF, you leave the PACFLT to head to face Germany. And it is not as slow as folks might think. The BB and TRN off Western USA are off Western Europe for an amphib with BB shot for USA3. The AC and Sub can be at the mouth of the Med in USA3 also… and off Southern or Norway in USA4.
Since the US normally does not ahve their full tranny capacity up until USA3, this means that the US would not have to worry about fleet defense from the German AF… they just build trannies and land units for the first 3 rounds, sail the PACFLT to the European coast, and then start dropping 8-10 divisions a round, supported by a BB shot and with 2 FIGs providing air cover, each and every round.
It also makes it pointless for Germany to even attempt to delay or destroy the UK fleet in G2 or G3, since the US will be sailing in an undefeatable (for Germany) fleet the following round.
So, without Pearl being done in a KGF game, Germany has about 4 rounds to crush Russia before they start facing in the mid teens of divisions being amphibed into Europe each and every round… which is more units than Germany can build in a round.
And Russia can’t be killed (without phenomonal dice or bad Allied play) in just 4 rounds.
So… kill the AC, kill the FIG, kill the sub. THEN retreat your fleet back to Asia and/or Africa for Axis KRF strat.
Unless you want to take the gamble of sending a TRN along with your Pearl fleet and FOLLOW the remaining US ships (the BB and TRN) through the Panama canal to try for one last desperate 1-2 strike against the Allied navies using German AF followed up by Japan naval units in Turn 4 or 5… (I have floated that strat concept elsewhere, but have NEVER tried it, and never heard of anyone having success with it… it is purely theoretical, and pretty darn crazy.)