What defines a misfire in artillery?

A misfire in artillery is defined as the situation where the howitzer fails to initiate the firing sequence, meaning that the round does not leave the barrel as intended. This can occur due to various reasons, such as a malfunction in the firing mechanism, issues with the primer, or problems with the ammunition itself. The definition emphasizes the failure to achieve the primary objective of firing the weapon.

While there can be delays in the firing process or a projectile becoming lodged in the cannon due to various circumstances, these do not constitute misfires. A delay in firing may indicate other issues but does not meet the definition of a misfire, and a projectile lodging in the cannon often signals a different condition related to the ammunition or fouling of the cannon barrel. On the other hand, a successful firing action indicates that the artillery piece performed correctly, which directly contradicts the definition of a misfire.