Once I saw what the problem was and the solution being used, I knew what the end result was going to be. I think an Army Demo Team could have directed the blast and debris better. I also think that the end result would have been the same except for the amount of debris blown back to the beach.

If they really wanted to "vaporize" most of the whale, a 1-5kt atomic weapon would have done that and a few miles radius as well.