The design originated as an improvement to the Type 11 37 mm infantry gun, which was also used as a primitive anti-tank weapon.

As with many Japanese designs, it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squatting or prone position.

Each weapon was manned by a squad of 11 personnel, and was kept in contact with the regimental headquarters (typically up to 300 meters away) by field telephone or messenger runners.

With the standard AP shell, it could penetrate 1.7 inches (43 mm) of armor at 500 yards (460 meters).

[11] The Type 1 47 mm anti-tank gun was put into service starting in early 1942, and was intended to replace it, but was never available in large enough numbers to do so completely.