There were two variants of the Davy Crockett launchers, with ranges of 2 kms. (1.25 miles), and 4 kms. (2.5 miles) range. Both were tripod mounts that could be carried by a jeep, truck, or M-113 APC. Each vehicle/mount carried two warheads (more weren't needed, since it was anticipated that the ability for the troops to survive to fire more than twice per launcher was low). The lighter mount could be fired from the vehicle. The larger one required the tripod to be set up on the ground.
They fired a 50 pound warhead, with a 10 ton, or 20 ton charge (not kilotons, just tons). The output was selectable by turning a dial.
I was very surprised that the yield power of these was so low. However, that is a bit misleading, since apparently the radiation emitted by them was still quite powerful, but the blast compared to other, much larger nukes was rather anemic, as one would expect, given their small size. It appears that these were the forerunners to the "neutron warheads" proposed during the 1970s and 1980s.
Supposedly, the effectiveness of the 20 ton warhead was as follows, against unprotected troops:
150m radius = 10,000+ rads; instant death
200 – 250m radius (quotes differ on this) = 4,600 – 5,000 rads; immediately incapacitated (troops recover afterwards for a few hours – listed as walking dead)
300 – 333m radius = 1,000 rads; 100% lethal over time
400m = 500 – 600 rads; fatal dose 50% chance, over time; nausea and vomiting within hours
500m = 210 rads; likely to raise cancer risk and cause sterility; nausea and vomiting within 24 – 48 hours
out to 700m = some elevated radiation exposure
Tanks that were approximately 100m, or more from ground zero would be unharmed, but their crews would be killed by the radiation (not sure if that applies to shielded vehicles).
In one of the on-line articles I read, it states that firing a barrage of these would give NATO 48 hours in which to mobilize their troops to oppose an invasion. Not really sure what is meant by that. Presumably the first waves of Soviet/Warpac forces would have been destroyed by the barrage(s).
Perhaps though, they are insinuating that the ground over which these weapons were detonated would be contaminated, so would be "no-go zones" for enemy forces.
I'm not clear on that, but obviously do expect enemy troops would want to avoid these zones if possible. If not, they would want to transit through them quickly, avoiding the major hotspots of the barrage zone(s).
What I'm not clear on is how much, if any protection the Soviet tanks (T-55s and later) and APCs/IFVs that received radiation shielding could provide, if they were to be attacked by these directly, or if they needed to cross irradiated ground after the barrage (from what I've read, these were to be fired as low airbursts to limit radioactive fallout).
Any thoughts on that?
Complete immunity from the radiation if they stay buttoned up?
Reduction in the lethal and dangerous zones, due to their shielding, from direct attack, but perhaps still vulnerable to a direct hit, or near miss (less than the radii mentioned above), etc.?
I suspect that most Soviet vehicles that were sealed, and with radiation shielding could pass through all but perhaps the hottest zones (points directly below ground zero), in their vehicles safely, as long as they did so fairly quickly, especially if they were not caught in the initial nuclear barrage, but were in follow-through echelons.
Obviously, they'd need to conduct decontamination ops as soon as possible, afterwards.
I know the Soviets had radiation recon vehicles (specialized BRDM-2s) to permit the marking of safe paths through the radiation zones, and/or the periphery of the hot zones, in order to aid the advance of the follow-on units.
I also seem to recall that the Soviet seals/air filtering on their vehicles was less than optimal, so they might have to wear their MOPP gear even while crewing their tanks, and riding in their IFVs.
Does anyone know if that is true?
Perhaps that was recommended for NATO vehicle crews and riders too, in a chemical, bio, or nuclear attack was anticipated, or had occurred.
Would make sense, in case your hull was breached by a standard AP or HEAT round, and you survived or had to bail out, since the sealed environment would then be compromised.
makes flight stands for 1/300 scale aircraft.
