OP, can you help narrow down a bit when/what era prompts your question. Because from the early modern and age of fighting sail, to the inclusion of steam propulsion steel and iron, to the dreadnought era, and the rise of naval aviation down to today there are multiple factors at play.

There are some major trends, namely ease of communication between vessels and leaders, and the risk of isolated units being cut off and destroyed, but each era had its own challenges and issues.