Surely modern US carriers have nukes aboard at all times when on station. The Japanese WWII fleet would not be a threat to a modern US Carrier. Take the carrier to position and launch nuclear armed cruise missiles at mainland Japan until surrender. War would be over in a few weeks.
“The Japanese WWII fleet would not be a threat to a modern US Carrier. Take the carrier to position and launch nuclear armed cruise missiles at mainland Japan until surrender.”
The US could not provoke anything until the Japanese attack first. If the Nimitz/Reagan/Ford attacked first the US would be the instigators of starting a war and possibly brought up on war crimes. The Japanese could say they were only out on manueuvers even though history books on the carrier would say otherwise.