Go into the Empire Options window. Select Strategies. Then, click on the Formations button. You can set different types of vehicles to break or not break formation. It's best if they all break formation.
Even in tactical, select "break all formations" once close in to enemy ships. Otherwise you will observe _very_ ammusing maneuveres
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It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. - Voltaire