[Aussie Gamer]

I having be playing two multi-player games so far and the guess that I have is that if you order them in they will go as a single ship.
They will move towards the planet one ship and space at a time until all movement has been expended.
Remember that you can only give one set of orders, "strategies", to a fleet. That's why in simulator you do so well. The fleet will either :move to max range or capture planet etc.
You can't do everything at once with a fleet.
Hope this helps you understand the combat system better.