[PvK]

Originally posted by nesrall:
I have realized at the start of each turn the ships all decide to...fire at 1 particular ship no matter what that turn & not choose another(unless they destroy that 1st ship)...

No they don't. Which turn it is has no effect, except on multiplex tracking, which allows more decisions. Each ship makes its own decisions (limited by multiplex tracking), but if all your ships use the same strategy, and that strategy gives the same answer about whom to fire on in the situation, then they will. Some strategies have their first target priority "Most Damaged" - so in this case, frequently everyone will continue to try to kill the first enemy that takes damage.

but the assault on the 1st ship continued on into the next turn...& the initially damaged ship had no weapons left (or anything else but organic armour)...& there were other targets in range with weapons...this was a 5 on 5 battle so my 5 ships destroyed his 1st ships' insides leaving that 1 ship immobile & with no weapons...but then next turn when I figured they shoot at a different ship they didn't, they continued to destroy that 1st ship completely & then moved on to another ship finally

To get the behaviour you want, change the firing priorities so that something besides "Most Damaged" is first. I tend to recommend "Nearest", or "Has Weapons".

PvK