In the context of artillery, what does the term "hangfire" indicate?

The term "hangfire" in artillery refers specifically to a delayed ignition of the propellant charge after the primer has been struck. This situation occurs when there is an unexpected delay between the firing mechanism being activated and the projectile actually being fired. Understanding hangfire is critical for safety, as it can lead to confusion regarding whether the firearm has fired correctly or if it has encountered a malfunction.

In contrast, simply having a failure to fire indicates that the ammunition did not ignite at all, which is a different scenario. A normal firing sequence involves immediate ignition and firing of the projectile, ruling out any delays. An equipment malfunction generally refers to issues unrelated to the firing process itself, such as problems with the artillery piece or related systems, and does not specifically indicate a delayed firing event. Thus, the correct understanding of "hangfire" aligns with option B, emphasizing the delayed ignition aspect.