One thing tho, fighter escorts that come with battlegroup are more effective than rest of group itself. Actually, if area would be patroled by that strong ships, they would eat player caps. For instance, bret dessie + 2 gbs + 2 templars is more than able to bring down gunboat shields. Most of damage coming from templars, but patrol as whole is rather useless because it is in formation, and refuses to break it. So you can slowpace behind and take out rear turrets, and then just glide with them and shoot them.
Also do not foget that even if cap patrol is useless on its own, they tend to spamm in huge numbers after some time bringing in more evil fighter escorts.