The NRA's 1st, 2nd and 3rd armoured battalions took part in the Second Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanking and were completely destroyed by the Japanese forces, with many vehicles destroyed or abandoned and captured. The few Chinese tanks and tankettes weren't grouped in large numbers, charging into battle like an armoured fist. Instead, they were dispersed in small groups for infantry support. Chinese tankers would use a motley uniform depending on their vehicles' source, mostly a mixture of German and Italian uniform and gear. All wore simple one-piece linen coveralls, likely supplied by Italy. The crash helmets were either the German 1937 model or the Italian M35 helmet, made of fibre and covered in black leather.