A few remarks:
1) The Chicken Option was considered, but never really studied in detail as the whole weapon design was already outdated and had never been
practical anyway; consider it a modern legend, it has a basis of truth but is grossly exaggerated.
2) The term "bazooka" is somewhat misleading when talking about the Davy Crockett, it was a RCL. "Bazooka" gives the impression of a
shoulder-fired weapon, which the Davy Crockett was not. The flight path was ballistic. The radiation, although technically lethal to the
firing crew, was mostly direct radiation and the dampining effect of cover is usually ignored. The crews were well instructed to take cover
before firing the thing. A dugout or a sturdy wall would have absorbed most radiation. The rest would come in the form of fallout but the
crew but be well on their way by then.
3) Atomic Mines were originally intended to effectively destroy key objectives to prevent them from falling into enemy hands (dams, bridges,
ports (esp. locks), etc.). Later the option was considered to drop them along with Special Forces behind enemy lines to disrupt
communication and supply lines as well as other key targets (airfields, field command posts, etc.) without having to use strategic or pre-
strategic nuclear weapons.
4) It should be reminded that the alternative to Battlefield Nuclear Weapons was a airstrike (nuclear one of course). These free-fall bombs
had a greater yield and were less accurate. In a scenario where WP Tank Forces would be halted by massive airstrikes and Allied ports in
enemy hands by treated the same way, the Atomic Artillery and the Atomic Mine seemed like a pretty good idea.
5) Another thing to remember is that sealift capacity was the most crucial factor of Allied Strategic and Long-Term Planning. The Allies
nearly lost both World Wars due to a lack of shipping capacity. There would be no time to bring large armoured contingents from across the
Atlantic, so the Pentomic Division was a logical conclusion. Besides, shipping losses were estimated at at least 50% (1950s). It all makes
a lot of sense.
6) As for Nuclear-Capable Mortars, I only know of the 240mm Soviet one. It was the 2S4 Tyulpan (Aka.: M-1975 & SM-240). I found no evidence of the 180mm mortar be Nuclear-Capable, although I do not thought it might have been studied.
7) Same with the Nuclear Shillelagh, Mauler and Redeye ... Studies. The reference to the redeye is, in my opinion, a reference to the proposed SP Redeye SAM Launcher. These "Redeyes" would either be shot in salvos with conventional warheads, or in limited numbers with a nuclear warhead. This "Redeye" would in practice have looked like nothing a shoulder-fired Redeye does. The other two date from the period when people were always saying "why not put a nuke on top? Much cheaper." Neither projects materialized in a nuclear variant.
8) No nuclear hand-grenade, even with today's physics it'd be too heavy.
And now a question.
I heard from a very unreliable and drunk source that the Soviets used to have Nuclear Railway Artillery. The guy was a Colonel in the Pol ish Air Force and most of the other stuff he told me checked out. I don't find any additional information though.
I have Excel sheets with data on nuclear weapons. They are not finished yet and contain many mistakes I know of but haven't had time to correct yet. Though I can give you some drafts with correct information.
Kind Regards.
