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Space fleets were generally organized into hierarchical groups for specific strategic purposes. Vessels could operate in those groupings in various situations either permanently or over a short period of time.

Unit

USS Centaur

The USS Centaur was referred to as "Destroyer Unit 6" during Operation Return

Ships of the same type were referred to as units. Starfleet used several destroyer units during Operation Return. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels")

Squadron

File:JemHadar attack ships attack, The Search.jpg

A squadron of Jem'Hadar attack ships

Squadrons were a small group of generally three to five ships. Although the exact number of vessels could vary, a Klingon squadron of Birds-of-Prey consisted of five ships , whereas a squadron of Jem'Hadar attack ships usually was comprised of three. (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach", "The Jem'Hadar")

Starfleet only organized small ships like their attack fighter in squadrons. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels", "What You Leave Behind")

Wing

Galaxy wing

An attack wing of Galaxy-class starships engaging a Galor-class destroyer

A wing was a grouping of several ships for a specific purpose. Depending on the military, a wing could consist of a different number of ships. Usually, wings were named by the specific mission type. The UFP Starfleet used attack wings and tactical wings. The command of a permanent wing such as the seventh tactical wing required an officer superior to the rank of captain in command, other non-permanent wings such as cruiser or Galaxy-wings could also be commanded by a captain. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels", "Behind the Lines")

In the Klingon Defense Force an attack wing consisted of at least seven Birds-of-Prey and two capital ships, mostly Vor'cha-class. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets")

Battle group

Battle group Omega

Starfleet Battle Group Omega

Battle groups consisted of an arbitrary number of ships, usually gathered temporary for a single mission that mostly involved combat. Starfleet assembled a small battle group to assist the USS Enterprise-E during a Reman incursion. (Star Trek Nemesis)

General Martok of the Klingon Empire organized a fleet of 1,500 ships into small battle groups for hit-and-run attacks against the Dominion. (DS9: "When It Rains...")

Task force

USS Venture and Excelsiors

A task force lead by the USS Venture

A task force was a fleet of ships for a special task such as assault, protection or diplomacy and was generally bigger than the relatively small battle group. Like the battle group, the number of ships in a task force could vary greatly: There were small task forces consisting of only nine ships and large ones consisting of several hundred. (DS9: "Improbable Cause", "Sacrifice of Angels")

In Starfleet, a task force was usually commanded by an admiral, or in some cases a captain. (TNG: "Descent", "Redemption II")

Numbered fleet

Federation fleet prepares to engage Dominion fleet

A Starfleet task force composed of elements of the Second, Fifth, and Ninth Fleets

Starfleet organized all ships in numbered fleets. A numbered fleet consisted of several hundred ships, all localized in a specific region of space. There were at least nine numbered fleets operating in Starfleet. (DS9: "Favor the Bold")

The Cardassian military used the term "order" rather than "fleet".

Admiralty

File:Starfleet command emblem.png

The emblem of Starfleet Command

In the 18th century, the Admiralty was the highest authority responsible for all naval operations; this term was used to describe all ships and vessels in a space fleet.

In Starfleet this authority was known as Starfleet Command and Commander-in-Chief. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

The Cardassian military took its orders from the Cardassian Central Command, while the highest military authority within the Dominion were the Founders.

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