Type 1 Chi-He was an Imperial Japanese Army Medium tank, an improved version of the Type 97 Chi-Ha. It had a different engine, thicker armor and the Shinhoto turret, used already in the late series of the Chi-Ha. The tanks performance was still inadequate compared to the American M4 Sherman, leading to a new design on the same chassis - Type 3 Chi-Nu. Production of Type 1 Chi-He started in 1943, with 170 units built. None of them left the Japanese home islands, they were kept there in anticipation of the imminent Allied invasion.