"Unable to locate target" message

[Nightcrawler1]

What exactly does it mean? You have a naval attack going on, you are pounding the heck out of one ship, then all of a sudden you get the "Unable to Locate Target" message, which presumably indicates the target has been sunk.

But then what happens to the planes? Do they say "Oh well" and go home, or do they go after a different ship in the target task force instead?

[trollelite]

They throw their ordnance into the sea and go back. No further ship would be attacked by them.

[JeffroK]

It may be odd, but the Pacific Ocean is a big place, plus its home to some of the worst weather as well as tropical sunshine.
 
Plus your enemy is trying to hide, that camoflague thingy.
 
So from ? 10,000ft you might be at the wrong end of the 60 mile hex and miss them.
 
Read any volume of WW2 in the Pacific, countless missions missed their targets, turned around and went home.

[trollelite]

It does throw torpedos and bombs to sea, that means their strikes are in vain. These still be counted as normal sorties so available sorties of your carrier reduced. You however get nothing, bad luck.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Nightcrawler1

What exactly does it mean? You have a naval attack going on, you are pounding the heck out of one ship, then all of a sudden you get the "Unable to Locate Target" message, which presumably indicates the target has been sunk.

But then what happens to the planes? Do they say "Oh well" and go home, or do they go after a different ship in the target task force instead?

In this circumstance (where you are pounding a ship to pieces and suddenly you can't find it) - it usually means the target is either obscurred by smoke and/or sunk.

[trollelite]

No, this means a death guarantee, never see any exception.....

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: trollelite

No, this means a death guarantee, never see any exception.....

Same here...

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: trollelite

No, this means a death guarantee, never see any exception.....

i've seen a ship or two survive (at least temporarily) after this has happened.

[hvymtl13]

ORIGINAL: trollelite

No, this means a death guarantee, never see any exception.....

Ya I take it if the trgt is still afloat the fires create a cloud obscuring the trgt.

[cantona2]

what gets me is when a recon plane cannot locate an island thats right next door to its base, itsw not as if the island, and we're talking small atolls here, moved overnight.
 
though im assuming that in these cases maybe camoflouge of the target plays an effect

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

what gets me is when a recon plane cannot locate an island thats right next door to its base, itsw not as if the island, and we're talking small atolls here, moved overnight.

though im assuming that in these cases maybe camoflouge of the target plays an effect

The recon you want is probably not about the state of the sandy beaches, maybe your opponent just camouflaged pretty well over night or moved into different positions.

Furthermore given the instruments of the days navigation wasn't as easy as it is today.

[Nightcrawler1]

Thanks all.  I wasn't complaining that they go home, I was just wondering if that is what happens.

[hvymtl13]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

what gets me is when a recon plane cannot locate an island thats right next door to its base, itsw not as if the island, and we're talking small atolls here, moved overnight.

though im assuming that in these cases maybe camoflouge of the target plays an effect

I don't know maybe they put a big blue tarp over the island? :p