On Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:06:15 -0500, nospam wrote:

it's a pet peeve of mine, even though it's obvious what was meant.

The tentative answer that came back on the alt.usage.english thread
on the difference between a near miss and a hit was that the
specific concept of a miss or hit is related to the "superstructure",
and not necessarily to "damage".

http://www.armouredcarriers.com/batt...ms-illustrious
"Exactly when a near-miss actually caused this damage is uncertain."

http://www.history.navy.mil/research...-dec-1942.html
"Superficial damage resulted from three near miss bombs."

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway
Other sources claim a stern hit, but Parshall & Tully 2005, pp. 253€“354 and 256€“259, make a case for a near miss, because of rudder damage from a high explosive bomb.