 In April 1904 , the division was tasked to contain the Russian armored cruisers based at Vladivostok , but failed to do so until 13 August when the latter tried to rendezvous with the ships that attempted to breakout from Port Arthur . Unbeknownst to the Russians , Tōgō had defeated the ships from Port Arthur during the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August and the Russian squadron from Vladivostok was intercepted off Ulsan , Korea by the 2nd Division . The steering of the Russian cruiser Rurik was damaged early in the battle and the Russians made several attempts to prevent the Japanese from concentrating fire on her , but were ultimately forced to abandon her to her fate . Kamimura left Rurik to the tender ministrations of his reinforcements and pursued the two remaining Russian ships for a time before breaking off pursuit prematurely based on an incorrect report that Izumo had expended most of her ammunition . That ship was hit over 20 times , but suffered fewer than 20 men killed or wounded . Iwate , in contrast , was hit far fewer times , but one of them started a major ammunition fire that killed or wounded dozens of men . After the battle , the sisters were refitted and assigned to different units , escorting troop convoys to northern Korea , providing cover while a minefield was laid off Vladivostock , and blockading the Tsugaru Strait until the Russian ships from the Baltic Fleet approached Japan in mid @-@ 1905 . 
