What factor decides where a ship goes in a fleet formation?

EngineSoundID "ENGINE_TECHCAPITALSHIP"
formationRank 0
minShadow 0.000000
maxShadow 1.000000

goes from 0 (front line) to 3 (support line)

Thanks!

You're just a wellspring of information lately, heh. Tempted to just pester you directly!

The ranks goes from 0-3 or 4 ranks

For reference...do you know what 1 and 2 are for specifically? if 3 is support and 0 is front line...are 1 and 2 the flanks? or is it something else?

nope, to be honest, I made those up

0 is normal where ships like Battleships, HCs and LF

1 I find Support vessels like Repair Cruisers and Support Battlecruisers

2 I find the long range vessels like LRFs and the like

3 is where the carriers often go

This is just what I have observed, and it forms a line

0000000

  11111

    222

      3

like so

Ah, k.