Um?
Battlefield 1942? Is that the measure of a strategy game?
It's rather arcade style game play really doesn't apply here.
As it turns out, ships are slow as compared to aircraft and ground vehicles. And the AH model works in that context... If you want a fast boat, drive a PT... But at the end of the day... Its Aces High... Not Aces of the Deep.
In Aces High you can command a whole fleet if you are competent. But that fleet will move at the speed which a fleet moves. Sorry that you've decided that Battlefield 1942 is some kind of accurate model... 'Cuz... well... It ain't.