What's the deal with subfleets

[DFNewb (OP)]

Can someone explain to me why or how you use them?

[L0ckAndL0ad]

IIRC, some pre-release change notes said that they were suppose to auto move to the parent fleet or something like that. I never managed to make it work. Or I may be imagining things/misunderstood something.

Otherwise, it's there for better organization and targeting. Real navies use Squadrons, Divisions and other semi-permanent formations for administrative purposes. I personally love this ability, helps stay sane while managing your forces. Targeting for sub-fleets was bugged the last time I tested it, though.

[Garfunkel]

They are used for organizing a fleet so that it's easier to detach certain ships.

Your fleet could, for example, have:

1st Cruiser Fleet
-Command Section
--CC ChairForce
-Sensor Section
--SC All-Seeing Eye
-Missile Section
--GC Macross
-Beam Section
--CA Punch
-PD Section
--CL Umbrella

Of course, this seems unnecessary if your fleet only has a couple of ships but once your fleets grow to 20+ ships in size, it'll be useful.

[DFNewb (OP)]

They are used for organizing a fleet so that it's easier to detach certain ships.

Your fleet could, for example, have:

1st Cruiser Fleet
-Command Section
--CC ChairForce
-Sensor Section
--SC All-Seeing Eye
-Missile Section
--GC Macross
-Beam Section
--CA Punch
-PD Section
--CL Umbrella

Of course, this seems unnecessary if your fleet only has a couple of ships but once your fleets grow to 20+ ships in size, it'll be useful.

Is there anyway to detach and re-attach them without using movement orders? Dragging a fleet into another just adds them together it doesn't become a subsfleet and not being able to drag multiple ships is a problem too.

[L0ckAndL0ad]

Is there anyway to detach and re-attach them without using movement orders? Dragging a fleet into another just adds them together it doesn't become a subsfleet and not being able to drag multiple ships is a problem too.

Select a sub-fleet, then press "Detach".
Movement order "Join as Sub-Fleet" to attach to a new fleet. (do not use for fighters)

[smoelf]

Is there anyway to detach and re-attach them without using movement orders? Dragging a fleet into another just adds them together it doesn't become a subsfleet and not being able to drag multiple ships is a problem too.

If you don't want to use movement orders you can create a new sub-fleet and drag-and-drop the detached fleet into the new sub-fleet.

[Droll]

Is there anyway to detach and re-attach them without using movement orders? Dragging a fleet into another just adds them together it doesn't become a subsfleet and not being able to drag multiple ships is a problem too.

If you don't want to use movement orders you can create a new sub-fleet and drag-and-drop the detached fleet into the new sub-fleet.

This only works if both are in the same location IIRC

[smoelf]

Is there anyway to detach and re-attach them without using movement orders? Dragging a fleet into another just adds them together it doesn't become a subsfleet and not being able to drag multiple ships is a problem too.

If you don't want to use movement orders you can create a new sub-fleet and drag-and-drop the detached fleet into the new sub-fleet.

This only works if both are in the same location IIRC

Yes. Any kind of drag-and-drop only works if they are in the same location. If they aren't, then you'd need to use movement orders anyway.