Fleet composition balances screening, line combat, cargo, siege, carrier support, and mission-specific speed. Source
Evidence status — confirmed: Unless noted otherwise, mechanics are verified against the installed patch 11.73 guide.
A practical force has:
- a light screen/tracking component;
- a heavy line that matches the target;
- enough cargo for the mission;
- siege only when structural damage is intended;
- carriers only when their aggregate aura justifies hull slots and cost;
- current intelligence.
Never merge the colony ship, siege train, cargo train, and reaction fleet merely because the interface permits it. Their slowest hull and different objectives make the combined fleet worse at every job.