The only issue I have with clans/squadrons is that it's almost inevitable that newer players, regardless of how good they become would never get to play with the "Old Guard," because they'd almost always be sticking with the people they know.
A better idea, in my humble opinion, would be to have clans/squadrons form on a week to week basis, and perhaps have them grouped together and balanced according to skill, so that there is a better balance in any given game. Otherwise, the battles will wind up being very lopsided. By having the clans/squadrons re-form each week it's possible for friends to play with friends AND to meet and get to know new people too.
On a different but related note, I LOVE the idea of both fuel and bombs/torpedoes to sink the carriers. This gives a much more realistic feel to the game. If fuel were introduced, it would be good to have peripheral airports scattered around the map that let you refuel without having damage repaired. This would introduce more realism as well, and still allow those (like me) to perform covert missions without being discovered or running out of fuel too easily...
Regards,