What is a hangfire in relationship to mortar rounds?

A hangfire occurs when there is a delay in the ignition of the propellant after the trigger is pulled, meaning that the round does not fire immediately as expected. This can happen due to various factors such as a malfunction in the primer or a fault in the firing mechanism. It is important to distinguish this from a misfire, where the round does not fire at all due to a failure in the ignition process.

In relation to mortar operations, a hangfire can be particularly dangerous because it creates a situation where personnel may think the mortar is safe after a delay, but it can still fire unexpectedly. Recognizing a hangfire situation is crucial for maintaining safety and ensuring proper handling procedures are followed until the situation is resolved.

The other options describe different scenarios that do not accurately represent a hangfire situation. For example, a round firing without command refers to an accidental discharge, while a round becoming lodged in the breach could indicate a loading issue, and a round failing to detonate refers to a misfire. Each of these scenarios requires different mitigating actions, underscoring the need for clear definitions in explosive handling jargon.