Originally Posted by
lysander
The artillery guys always had a little thermometer in with the propelling charges. The fire direction center would use that information to fine tune the firing elevation.
There is also a misconception that the barrel temperature is the only important factor, or that hot ammunition in a cold barrel will not be effected.
When propellant burns, it releases energy inside the grains of powder, if the grains are hot, they have, in addition to the stored chemical energy, thermal energy. So, hot propellant will produce higher pressures and velocities.
A hot barrel may warp, or droop, or may experience some other phenomenon that changes the point of impact or accuracy, as well.
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