Fleet orders vs ship orders

[Dragonlord]

Question:

Let's say I design a missile ship and set the strategy for that kind of ship to "Maximum weapons range". Then I create a fleet which includes variuos other ships (PD, etc) as well as some of these missile ships. The Fleet orders are "Bull formation, Optimal weapons range". I then send the fleet to attack something in strategic combat (PBEM). Will the missile ships follow the strategy of their ship design, or of the fleet?

If they follow fleet orders, they may get too close to the action and need more shields. And their "ship type" orders would only ever kick in if they attack something solo (no fleet).
However if it turns out that fleet orders always supercede specific ship type strategy ...why use ship type strayegy ?

Also, under empire options, strategies, you can set what type of units will break your formation. Does anyone know how exactly this works and how to use it to your advantage?