ahh i've been using that since A1, the problem with that though (particually with A2) is when an enemy ship gets in sensor range the "escorting" ships just stop, dead turning to face it until either they are told to do something else, or said enemy ship leaves sensor range
This is true, unfortuneately, I can think of no other way for it to work, and, other than that one problem you mentioned, I know of no other problem's with it.