An audience comment about The Expanse proposes torpedo boats that can patrol independently or be carried by a battleship. That arrangement still gives the fleet the smaller craft it needs, whatever name the setting gives them. Some Star Wars and Star Trek fighters are already substantial ships despite their single pilot or small crew. The naval comparison therefore depends on the craft's employment as well as its label.
Notable Point · 4:17:46-4:18:18
Space fighters as torpedo boats in another name
The useful naval comparison for a small space combatant may be an independently patrolling or carrier-borne torpedo boat rather than an atmospheric fighter.