Fleet Composition
From Azur Lane Fan Wiki
I'm not an expert. I'm going to share just a few things I know.
Your fleet consists of a main fleet (in back) and a vanguard fleet (in front). Aircraft carriers, battleships, battle cruisers, and some utility ships (repair / heal) are in back. Cruisers and destroyers are in front. The vanguard fleet will have rapid, lower-powered attacks. Battleships and Carriers pack a bigger punch, but they fire / launch aircraft far more slowly.
Location of where to put your ships matter.
Main Fleet
Vanguard Fleet
Submarines
When I first started playing, I wondered when I would get submarines. I'm not sure what the answer is, but when you Build