Formation names carry institutional history. In the age of sail, full admirals commanded fleets and vice admirals commanded squadrons, without the later task-force vocabulary. Flotilla was less common in that setting, though some navies used related forms. Naval vocabulary also moves through fashions, and one expression may become preferred for a period before another replaces it. A formation name has to be read in the usage of its own navy and era.
Notable Point · 7:32-8:32
Age-of-sail ranks and fashion shape naval formation names
Fleet and squadron once aligned with admiral and vice-admiral commands, while flotilla usage varied with each navy's preferred vocabulary.