Whales cannot be humanely killed they are too large, and even with an explosive harpoon, it is difficult to hit the whale in the right spot.

Thirty B 52s were further modified to carry up to 12 AGM 84 Harpoon anti ship missiles each, while 12 B 52Gs were fitted to carry the AGM 142 Have Nap stand off air to ground missile.

And the Eskimo community basically camps out on the edge of the ice here, waits for a whale to come close enough to attack. And when it does, it throws a harpoon at it, and then hauls the whale up under the ice, and cuts it up.