Did Star Trek's Nuclear Mortar Have a Real-Life Counterpart?

[256bits]

There is an episode of Star Trek where Kirk and Spock use a mortar with a nuclear explosive head against an alien threat.
At the time I had thought that it was an interesting device, but completely futuristic. But, as I have learned, it does seem that in this instance, Star Trek had copied from a real working technological device.
The device is discontinued for service troops with good reason.

In the 50's, 60's, 70's ingenious minds could come up with crafty use of such a small kilo-ton device other than military, such as espoused in magazines such as Popular Mechanics or Popular Science, such as excavation, dam building or whatever.

It never caught on as being practical or necessary. AFAIK, no Earth movement was ever tested with such a device.

I guess possible questions would be:
1. Was there ever a test for Earth movement?
2. How many other "new" technologies on Star Trek were actual adaptations of technology of the day.?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)

( Half science and half fiction, so could be in the incorrect sub-topic, except for the nuclear part )

 

[glappkaeft]

I guess possible questions would be:
1. Was there ever a test for Earth movement?

Yes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaceful_nuclear_explosion

 

[Aufbauwerk 2045]

We also developed a "suitcase bomb." Actually it fit into a large backpack. The idea was that in the event of a Soviet invasion of Europe, small teams could parachute in, and destroy bridges and other structures useful to the invader, by placing the suitcase nuke next to the target. This was a quick and easy alternative to using plastic explosives. As long as the bomb went off, you were certain to destroy the target. Naturally the other side developed their own. A few years ago, during the breakup of the USSR, there was a report that some of their suitcase nukes had gone missing.

We also had an "atomic cannon." I saw an old model of this cannon in a toy store. I thought it was a joke until I looked it up. This was literally a cannon that fired a shell with a nuclear warhead. Combine this fact with the ability we have to develop ultra-long-range cannons. You would not need to fire many shells, would you?

 

[Delta Force]

The Davy Crockett underwent two atmospheric tests, the Little Feller II weapons effects test shot on July 7, 1962, and the Little Feller I weapons system test shot on July 17, 1962. Little Feller I was the last atmospheric nuclear test conducted at Nevada Test Site.

Here's a film reel explaining Little Feller I and showing the test shot.

 

[Delta Force]

We also developed a "suitcase bomb." Actually it fit into a large backpack. The idea was that in the event of a Soviet invasion of Europe, small teams could parachute in, and destroy bridges and other structures useful to the invader, by placing the suitcase nuke next to the target. This was a quick and easy alternative to using plastic explosives. As long as the bomb went off, you were certain to destroy the target. Naturally the other side developed their own. A few years ago, during the breakup of the USSR, there was a report that some of their suitcase nukes had gone missing.

That's the Special Atomic Demolition Munition.

We also had an "atomic cannon." I saw an old model of this cannon in a toy store. I thought it was a joke until I looked it up. This was literally a cannon that fired a shell with a nuclear warhead. Combine this fact with the ability we have to develop ultra-long-range cannons. You would not need to fire many shells, would you?

That's the M65 Atomic Cannon (nicknamed Atomic Annie). The W19 nuclear artillery shell was developed for the 16 inch guns of the Iowa class battleships (I think also usable by the South Dakota and North Carolina classes). Nuclear shells were developed for 8 inch and 6 inch artillery pieces shortly afterwards, but there was such rapid development of nuclear and rocketry technology in the 1950s that the systems were deemed unsuitable for use in Europe due to short range. They saw a few more years service in Korea before being retired.