What is the difference between a nuke and a tactical nuke?

Answer 1

There is NO difference; a nuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon.

A tactical nuclear weapon is normally deployed from a nuclear cannon (atomic cannon/nuclear artillery). These pieces were developed in the 1950s, and fired quite frequently in Nevada at atomic test sites.

Strategy is the big picture.

Tactics is the small picture.

Or, as Napoleon may have once said, "Strategy is out of cannon range, tactics is within cannon range."

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The difference is explosive yield. Regular nukes are typically measured in megatons, while tactical nukes are smaller and measured in kilotons. Tactical nukes were intended to be used at the tactical level against specific battlefield targets and in relative close proximity to friendly troops. Regular nukes were meant as a deterrence and were intended to destroy large cities.