Between 1953 & 1956 the US Navy had a TS program to develop the Mk 23 16" nuclear shell. It had a yield of 15-20 kilotons. There has never been an UNCLAS confirmation that the shells were ever deployed to the Iowa-class battleships. In 1991 ALL nuclear shells were withdrawn from the US inventory.
No bets on whether there are any still stashed in the Naval Weapons Depots.
That would have been better than a full broadside of Mk 7s. I can just imagine some ANGLICO wag ordering a left 50, drop 100", fire for effect correction.
SpyNavy
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
When the Iowa tried to blow up its own gun mount there must have not been a Nuke aboard. We’d have heard about that?