Completed and commissioned in August 1945 on the day after hostilities ended in World War II, she surrendered in September 1945 and was scuttled in April 1946.

At the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high-speed coastal submarines to defend the Japanese Home Islands[1] against an anticipated Allied invasion (named Operation Downfall by the Allies).

[1] For surface running, the submarines were powered by a single 400-brake-horsepower (298 kW) diesel engine that drove one propeller shaft.

Upon commissioning, Ha-216 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 52.

[2] Her commanding officer was assigned elsewhere on 23 August 1945,[2] and she surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.