Ships close together in a publicity photograph are following a special formation order. Operational spacing is measured in miles and reflects the weapons the ships must use. Placing an allied ship too close can block a gun's line of fire or prevent another engagement. Wider separation lets several ships attack a threat without masking one another. A photograph at that spacing would reduce most of the ships to distant dots.
Notable Point · 19:13-20:56
Task-group spacing keeps weapons clear to engage
The gaps between ships allow their weapons to support one another, even though publicity photographs show a much tighter formation.