Thanks, Krieg! Although, the second part of your answer is contradicted by page 32 of the rulebook under “no combat value” for transports:
“Transports may not attack without being accompanied by at least 1 unit with an attack value, unless they are conducting an amphibious assault from a friendly sea zone that is free of enemy submarines.”
Since the sea zone is not free of enemy submarines, then the “unless” part of the rule doesn’t apply and the first part of the statement must be followed; that “Transports may not attack without being accompanied by at least 1 unit with an attack value.”
Per the letter of that law, it doesn’t seem that a carrier-only escort through sub-infested waters is acceptable. Thank you for answering my question (and now I see it on page 16E and page 15P where it says “warship”. However, now I’m even more confused about the carrier inclusion based on what it says on page 32…