Flotilla

A (from, meaning a small flota  of ships), or , is a  of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. The word flotilla has also been used at times to refer to a small fleet of vessels, commercial or otherwise. There is also such a thing as a, in which is a group of organized merchant vessels that set sail together on the same route.

Naval composition
A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same type of warship, such as s, or s. Groups of larger warships are usually called squadrons, but similar units of non-capital ships may be called squadrons in some instances, and flotillas in others. Formations including more than one capital ship, are typically called fleets, each portion led by a capital ship being a squadron.

A flotilla is usually commanded by a rear admiral, a commodore or a captain, depending on the importance of the command (a vice admiral would normally command a squadron). A flotilla is often divided into two or more divisions, each of which might be commanded by the most senior commander, nearly always a lieutenant at the very least. A flotilla is often, but not necessarily, a permanent formation.

A naval flotilla has no direct equivalent on land, but is, perhaps, the rough equivalent in tactical value of a brigade or regiment.

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