The armoured cruisers are of two classes. The first comprises the
British (Elswick) built Asama, Tokiwa, Idzumo, Iwate; the second the
Stettin-built Yakumo, and the St. Nazaire-built Azuma.
These last were the original Japanese design; Elswick put the extra
guns at its own discretion, and rearranged the positions as the plans
indicate.