ɪts dʒˈɛnᵻsˌɪs wʌzðɪ ˌʌnɛkspˈɛktᵻd fˈeɪlɪɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹmstɹɔŋ bɹˈiːtʃlˈoʊdɪŋ ɹˈaɪfəlz ɹˈiːsəntli dɪvˈɛləpt ænd ɪnstˈɔːld ˌɔn ɹˈɔɪəl nˈeɪvi ʃˈɪps.
Its genesis was the unexpected failure of the Armstrong breech-loading rifles recently developed and installed on Royal Navy ships.