 On January 20 , 1989 , off Vieques Island , according to Thompson , Iowa 's Turret One fired six of the experimental shells using the supercharged powder bags . Skelley claimed that one of the 16 @-@ inch shells traveled 23 @.@ 4 nautical miles ( 40 km ) , setting a record for the longest conventional 16 @-@ inch shell ever fired . Moosally was pleased with the accomplishment , and ensured that news of the record was publicized in the media . Although the shells had been fired without serious incident , Meyer and Petty Officer First Class Dale Eugene Mortensen , gun chief for Turret One , told Skelley that they would no longer participate in his experiments . Skelley asked Turret Two 's gun chief , Senior Chief Reggie Ziegler , if he could use Turret Two for his experiments ; Ziegler refused . Skelley then asked Lieutenant Phil Buch , Turret Two 's officer in charge , and Buch acquiesced . 
