"The War for all the Oceans" L. & R. Adkins (2006)

footnote page 5

"At this time in Britain there was no real difference between the terms 'fleet' and 'squadron' except in reference to 'the Fleet' as a whole, which was divided into three squadrons (the red, white and blue). Generally, the terms were interchangeable, and have been used as such throughout this book."

What part of the above don't you understand?