[Grandpa Kim]

Tnarg, Slynky is right on.

I do disagree that specialized fleets are necessary. In the scenario you brought up, it will make little difference if the two fleets travel as described or if you place all the ships in one fleet. In either case the fleet orders do not matter, because you should have "all ships break formation" and they will follow their own design orders.

Specialized fleets is a failsafe for sending out too small a fleet. Missile or Carrier fleets must be big enough to overwhelm point defense. In a combined fleet its too easy to not attach enough missile boats or carriers.