Formation Question

[primitive]

You can’t

The ships are assigned according to their in-game ID-code which is assigned when the ship is built. That means the oldest ships goes in front with all the standard formations.
While putting lots of cannonfodder up front is not much of a strategy, at least it’s an effective way of reducing maintenance cost

[grumble]

I know how to pick the formation leader, but how do you assign the rest of the positions? Does it assign the rest of the ships in the order of the list? Do I change that by using the fleet transfer window?

[Ruatha]

I think it assigns them in reference to construction order. Oldest ships at front and newer at the rear.