nˈoʊ ˈɔːɹdnəns hɐdbɪn ˈɔːɹdɚd baɪ ðə kənfˈɛdɚɹəts bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə ʃˈɪps wɜː sˈiːzd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː, bˌʌt ɪn bɹˈɪɾɪʃ sˈɜːvɪs ðeɪ mˈaʊntᵻd ɐ pˈɛɹ ʌv nˈaɪnˈɪntʃ ɹˈaɪfəld mˈʌzəllˈoʊdɪŋ ɡˈʌnz ɪn ˈiːtʃ tˈɜːɹɪt.
No ordnance had been ordered by the Confederates before the ships were seized in 1863, but in British service they mounted a pair of 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns in each turret.