More specifically strategy has an overall large plan and tactics take care of one specific goal.<p>So a strategic plan to prevent the use of a harbor might be a single strategic sized nuke.  You could say the tactic and strategic levels merged into one.  There&#x27;s only one tactical move as part of that strategic plan.  One call does it all.<p>A nuclear tactical plan to prevent the use of a harbor might involve as a small part of the overall mission a nuclear torpedo to put a pesky submarine out of commission so a naval invasion can happen without being sunk by the sub.  Or a nuclear artillery shell to clear a tank battalion guarding an approach to the harbor from your forces that&#x27;ll take control of the harbor.<p>Typically dropping a bridge with a nuke while retreating is rarely&#x2F;never strategic, it&#x27;s tactical as a tiny component of an overall retreat involving numerous tasks.<p>Another characteristic is strategic &quot;button pushing&quot; rarely is authorized on the front line, but tactical &quot;button pushing&quot; is usually authorized at the front line.  So M16s tend not to be strategic.