laststandonzombieisland

You see the program was to test the impact of tactical nukes in a jungle environment but, for good reason, the Aussies were disinclined to test actual atomics on their land (anymore) and there was that whole test ban thing to think about as well.

So they loaded up 50 tons of high explosives from recycled WWI-era 155-millimeter artillery shells on a 160~ foot high tower to simulate a 10kt airburst, turning 37 acres of rain forest to matchsticks, and popular opinion against further such testing.

Things like that happen when you make your own Tunguska event.

It was known as Operation Blowdown