The CTLS was a lightly armoured light tank operated by a 2-man crew, however its high speed (50 km/h) and high manoeuvrability were perfectly suited to the terrain of the Dutch colonies. Shortly before the Japanese invasion of Java and the Dutch East Indies, 7 tanks were delivered along with a few armoured cars. They formed the only armoured force to face the 35,000 Japanese who landed on 1 May 1942 and fought as best they could.