How to escort trading routes?

[Novaliz]

Is there a way to set my fleet to escort trade ships?

[Jorgen_CAB]

You do this by setting fleets to patrol systems where trade is conducted and where you often find pirates to harass them. Keep these fleets very small, maybee three to five escorts max or a few frigates. Disperse them over a few systems and have them patrol in sector range at most or just in the system they are stationed.

It is better to have several three to five strong escort fleets assigned to the same system than one stronger one for patrol duty against pirates.

There are no way to have fleets patrol in a specific pattern or some specific systems. The only way you assign fleets mission is a home base and a radius of operation.

[OrnluWolfjarl]

Not directly. What Jorgen_CAB suggested is your best solution. Make those fleets automated and set them on Defend duties, with a small radius (e.g. nearby systems)

You can also set lone military vessels to automatic duty, which will go around and sit near your civilian stations and ships. But they'll do it one at a time, and will choose escort targets somewhat randomly. If a pirate or enemy tries to attack a civilian vessel in the area, they'll arrive piecemeal one at a time to the location and try to defend. This will usually give the civilian enough time to escape, but the military ship and others that follow will very likely die.

[U235]

It would be a waste of fuel to escort freighters since they can only be attacked in a star system. I concur the defense ships in a system is the best solution.