▁sides ▁and ▁rear ▁of ▁the ▁cas em ates ▁were ▁protected ▁by ▁ ▁of ▁arm or . ▁The ▁deck ▁was ▁ ▁thick ▁and ▁the ▁arm or ▁protect ing ▁the ▁con ning ▁tower ▁was ▁ ▁in ▁thick ness . ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁and ▁career ▁ ▁The ▁contract ▁for ▁I w ate , ▁named ▁after ▁the ▁e pon ym ous ▁pre fect ure , ▁was ▁signed ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁July ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁with ▁Arm strong ▁Whit worth . ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁at ▁their ▁ship yard ▁in ▁El sw ick ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁November ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁and ▁launched ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁March ▁ 1 9 0 0 . ▁She ▁was ▁completed ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁March ▁ 1 9 0 1 ▁and ▁depart ed ▁for ▁Japan ▁the ▁following ▁day ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Captain ▁Yam ada ▁H ik oh achi , ▁who ▁had ▁been ▁appointed ▁to ▁super v ise ▁her ▁construction ▁and ▁bring ▁her ▁back ▁to ▁Japan . ▁I w ate ▁arrived ▁in ▁Y ok os uka ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁May ▁and ▁Yam ada ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁by ▁Captain ▁Tak et omi ▁Kun ik ane ▁on ▁ 6 ▁July . ▁ ▁Rus so - J apan ese ▁War ▁At ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁Rus so - J apan ese ▁War , ▁I w ate ▁was ▁the ▁flags hip ▁of ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Mis u ▁S ot ar ō , ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Fle et .