Just to draw your attention to the latest development blog article which you might have missed, this one discusses some of the concepts of the Ship Configuration and Fleet Configuration screens and there's also a VERY juicy extension video to #45 showing:
- Extended gameplay footage
- The ship and fleet config screens in action
- A fly around the PLC medium Cruiser 'Matar!'
"The Flotilla Identity acts as both a way for the Player to glean a formations purpose and its position in the theatre but also encourages the Player to think more carefully about their formations. So it is the intent that this identity system grants bonuses pertaining to that particular squadron’s characteristic. For example the EW Squadron would get increases to passive and active ECM/ECCM modules, Defence Practitioners might get natural damage resistances..."
Take a look at 'of Ship Customisation and the Mustering of Forces'