Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is the third film entry in the Kerberos Saga, an alternate history political thriller series by Mamoru Oshii (Director of Ghost in the Shell and The Sky Crawlers). Set in the 1950s, Jin-Roh depicts a history where the United States chose not to intervene in either World War, Japan sided with the Allies, and Germany defeated and occupied Japan for nearly 10 years, leaving the country in a state of political turmoil.
To cope with the increase in anti-government movements, the Japanese government founds the Special Armed Garrison, more commonly known as "Kerberos". The Kerberos squad consists of highly trained, heavily armed soldiers who utilize special suits of armor known as "Protect Gear", and is tasked with quelling anti-government movements through lethal force.
While the last film in the franchise, Jin-Roh actually takes place first, depicting the events leading up to the "Kerberos Riot", an incident in which the Kerberos Squad is ordered to disband and refuse to do so, resulting in a bloody confrontation between the Kerberos Units and the Tokyo Capital Police. The other two films in the franchise, The Red Spectacles and Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, depict the aftermath of the Kerberos Riot.
A South Korean live-action adaptation was released in 2018, titled Illang: The Wolf Brigade, which updates the setting to a Korean one.
A note on the dates: The Kerberos Riot, and thus the events in Jin-Roh, were originally set during the mid- to late-1980's. The Kerberos Saga timeline was retconned after the release of Jin-Roh.
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=Handguns=
==Mauser C96==
The Mauser C96 is used by Kerberos Squad as their standard sidearm. A close examination reveals that the hammer does not have a hole. Mauser manufactured such models before 1899 (known as "cone hammer" early types). In the movie, this weapon is either based on the old design, or it has been redesigned with a hole-less hammer.
==Walther PPK==
Fuse owns a Walther PPK which he keeps hidden in a book. This is likely a personal gun.
600px|thumb|none|Fuse's Walther PPK
==Walther P38==
A Henmi is seen using a Walther P38 during the film's finale.
==Leuchtpistole==
During the finale, a Henmi shoots Fuse with a Leuchtpistole loaded with a HE round. 
thumb|none|350px|Leuchtpistole - 26.65mm
=Submachine Guns=
==PPSh-41==
The PPSh-41 is used by the "Sect" members in the opening sequence.
thumb|400px|none|Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
==Sten Mk. II==
Several members of the "Sect" can be seen carrying Sten Mk II submachine guns.
==Bergmann MP18==
A member of the "Sect" is seen carrying a Bergmann MP18, a relatively high-end weapon compared to his comrades' armaments. That weapon was quite expensive to make and it is likely that "Sect" captured it from a fallen soldier/police officer. The model is seen in "Jin Roh" is standard issue MP18/I - notice an angled magazine well (this is not a magazine!) that was used for snail-drum magazines, same as for Artillery Luger.
thumb|none|400px|Bergmann MP18/I - 9x19mm
==MP40==
The MP40 is used by the Capital Police on several occasions.
==MP41==
The MP41 is used by the Capital Police during their search for Fuse in the sewers. In reality the MP41 was used by the German Police until the end of World War II, which explains why it is used in "Jin Roh" in a similar application.
=Rifles=
==Mauser Karabiner 98K==
During the opening narration, several Mauser Kar98k rifles can be seen in the slideshow depicting the alternate history behind the Kerberos Saga. Some are seen with pro-communist guerrillas in the opening sequence and with Capital Police forces.
==Sturmgewehr 44==
Fuse and several other Kerberos members are seen using Sturmgewehr 44 rifles on a target range.
==Haenel MKb 42(H)==
During a training exercise, several Kerberos members in Protect Gear use Haenel MKb 42(H) rifles loaded with rubber training bullets. These were prototypes of Sturmgewehr 44, relegated to training purposes.
=Machine Guns=
==MG42==
The standard weapon of Kerberos members using Protect Gear is the MG42 machine gun. As the Protect Gear severely limits the movement of someone wearing it in exchange for added protection, the MG42 provides a source of devastating firepower to compensate for a lack of mobility. One of the MG42's biggest drawbacks is its ammo capacity (a 50 to 250 round belt) compared to its rate of fire (1200 rounds per minute). The Protect Gear provides an interesting solution; a Kerberos member simply unloads the weapon upon contact with an enemy, cutting their target to shreds, then retrieves a fresh belt which is dispensed from the Protect Gear's backpack. The backpack also holds a spare/alternate barrel.
*Trivia Note: The standard machine gun of the Kerberos Squad was originally the MG34, but was retconned as the MG42 in the second film, Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops.
==FG 42==
The Kerberos members that Fuse meets within the sewers near the end of the film use FG 42/I machine guns. In other entries in the Kerberos Saga, Kerberos members may opt to carry the FG42 in place of their standard MG42.
thumb|none|400px|FG42, 1st pattern - 7.92x57mm Mauser‎
=Lauchers=
==Panzerfaust==
A single "Sect" member is seen carrying a Panzerfaust recoilless gun.
==Gewehrgranatengerät==
The Gewehrgranatengerät Rifle Grenade Launcher is mounted on a Kar98k used by a Police officer.
=Others=
==Gas Riot Gun==
Metropolitan Police anti-riot officers are seen using Gas Riot Guns during the opening sequence.
==Wooden Pistol==
A Wooden Pistol is seen with an unnamed Kerberos soldier while training with Fuse in karate.
Category: Anime
Category: Crime
Category: Drama
Category:Japanese Produced/Filmed
Category:Mamoru Oshii
Category:War
Category:Thriller