In addition, the shortcoming of the Type 97 Chi-Ha armed with its low-velocity 57 mm main gun became clear during the 1939 Battles of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet Union.

[7] When the Type 97 entered service, properly equipped and supported, mechanized infantry units were realized.

[1] The skill with which they maneuvered their mechanized infantry divisions was best seen in the Japanese invasion of Malaya, where the lighter weight of Japanese medium tanks allowed for a rapid ground advance so heavily supported by armor that British defenders never had a chance to establish effective defense lines.

Similar conditions were repeated in the Kwantung Army's defense against the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, although there was little tank-versus-tank action.

[12] While vulnerable to opposing Allied tanks (such as the M4 Sherman and Soviet T-34), the 47 mm high-velocity gun did give the Type 97 Shinhōtō a fighting chance against them.

[14] The Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha served against allied forces throughout the Pacific and East Asia as well as the Soviets during the July–August 1945 conflict in Manchuria.

After the end of World War II, IJA tanks captured by the Soviets were turned over to the Communist Chinese army.

[17] This was a variant of the Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha produced late in the war for the Imperial Japanese Navy.