Strike Witches: The Movie

Early August, 1945. The former members of the disbanded 501st Joint Fighter Wing, the Strike Witches, have been back in their home countries or combat theatres since the liberation of Venezia. Yoshika Miyafuji, now a regular civilian after depleting her magic to defeat the Neuroi hive over Venezia, has been sent an invitation to study (non-magic) medicine at a Helvetian (Swiss) medical school. Yoshika accepts, and sets off for Europe aboard the carrier Amagi, alongside her escort, rookie IFN Sergeant Shizuka Hattori.
Meanwhile, a new type of Neuroi starts appearing sporadically around Europe, capable blocking all forms of communication nearby; even worse, some are showing up behind the frontlines, with no clear explanation of how they got there. After arriving in Pas-de-Calais and briefly visiting with Pierrette Clostermann and Lynette Bishop, Yoshika and Shizuka depart for Helvetia. However, given Yoshika's drained magic and Shizuka's lack of combat experience, running into one of those new Neuroi could prove dangerous.
Strike Witches: The Movie is set shortly after Strike Witches: Operation Victory Arrow, and is followed by Strike Witches: Road to Berlin.
For more in-depth explanations of the lore and setting of the World Witches universe, see the first season's page.
Warning: Some descriptions and images are major spoilers for the series, read at your own risk.
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=Pistols=
==Beretta Modello 1934==
A Beretta Modello 1934 is seen being loaded by Squadron Leader Heinrike Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein of the 506th JFW during a scramble. The 506th Joint Fighter Wing, or Noble Witches, is made up entirely of witches from noble families, and is split into two sub-units. A-unit, based in Sedan, is comprised of Squadron Leader Rosalie de Hemricourt de Grunne (of Belgica), Heinrike herself (of Karlsland), Flight Lieutenant Adriana Visconti (of Romagna), Flying Officer Kunika Kuroda (of Fuso), and Pilot Officer Isabelle du Monceau de Bergendal (of Belgica); all five members of A-unit cameo in The Movie. B-unit, based in Dijon, is comprised of Wing Commander Geena Preddy, Flight Lieutenant Marian Carl, Flight Lieutenant Jennifer DeBlanc, and Flying Officer Carla Luksic (all from Liberion).
Adriana Visconti also carries a Modello 1934 as her sidearm, which makes sense given she's from Romagna, though it's not seen in her extremely brief cameo. Similarly, Heinrike uses an MG 151 as her main weapon, like fellow night witch Heidemarie Schnaufer, though Heinrike's is not seen in The Movie.
=Submachine Guns=
==MP 40==
Erica Hartmann carries an MP 40 submachine gun as a backup to her MG 42 on a patrol of the Rhine alongside Gertrud Barkhorn. After overheating her MG 42's barrel (and having neglected to bring spare barrels, as Gertrud did) Erica ditches her machine gun and uses the MP 40 for the remainder of the engagement. Erica's MP 40 features a brown bakelite lower reciever.
MP 40s are also seen in the hands of Karlsland soldiers in the film's opening, a flashback to 1943 in which Karlsland and Liberion infantry and tanks engage ground-type Neuroi, before an enormous flying wing Neuroi shows up, decimating the ground forces, as well as the naval forces supporting them, before being destroyed by the Strike Witches.
=Rifles=
==M1 Garand==
In the 1943 prologue, Liberion troops are armed with M1 Garand rifles.
==M1 Carbine==
Later in the film, Liberion troops under sudden attack at Bastogne attempt to radio for assistance; one of them can be seen with an M1 Carbine.
==Boys Mk I*==
The Strike Witches' sharpshooter, Lynette Bishop, uses a Boys Mk I* anti-tank rifle as her weapon of choice. A Boys rifle is also used by the Noble Witches' marksman Isabelle du Monceau de Bergendal, often known by the nickname "Isaac".
=Machine Guns=
==Bren Mk 1 (M)==
Pierrette-Henriette Clostermann continues to use a Bren Mk 1 (M) as her main weapon.
thumb|none|400px|Bren Mk 1 (M) - .303 British
==Browning M1918A2==
Charlotte Yeager uses a Browning Automatic Rifle, and it gets considerably more time to shine in The Movie compared to Operation Victory Arrow.
==Browning M1919A6==
Francesca Lucchini continues to use a Browning M1919A6 modified with an attached, but quickly swappable ammo box as her weapon.
==MG 42==
As always, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, Gertrud Barkhorn, Erica Hartmann, and Eila Juutilainen, as well as Nikka Katajainen use the witch-version MG 42, redesigned to use Patronentrommel 34 drum magazines. One of Gertrud's pair is borrowed by Yoshika during the climactic battle.
==Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai==
As an Imperial Fuso Navy witch, Shizuka Hattori uses a Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai iteration of the Type 99 cannon, designed specifically for use by witches. Shizuka's Type 99 is also used by Yoshika. The Movie marks the first time the charging "button" is used on-screen, although it was intended as part of the design all along; this function is noted in the design sketch seen below, which predates the first season.
For the rather lengthy technical explanation of the witches' Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai variant, see its first season entry.
=Launchers=
==Fliegerhammer==
The 501st's night witch, Aleksandra Litvyak, continues to use the nine-barrel Fliegerhammer rocket launcher. Originally designed by Erica's twin sister Ursula Hartmann, the Fliegerhammer was inspired by (both in-universe and out) the Fliegerfaust.
For additional details, see its first season entry.
==Panzerfaust 60==
Gertrud Barkhorn equips herself with a pair of Panzerfaust 60s, along with her two MG 42s, two spare barrels, spare magazines, and spare ammo belts, as well as drop tanks for her Fw 190 striker, when she and Erica head out on patrol looking for any sign of the new Neuroi type.
=Autocannons=
==MG 151/20==
Heidemarie Schnaufer uses an MG 151/20 cannon as her weapon, used prominently in the film's present-day (August, 1945) opening, after the 1943-era prologue. Encountering the first of the new Neuroi that can block communications, Heidemarie makes fairly short work of it with her MG 151. As mentioned above, Heinrike Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein also uses an MG 151/20 as her main armament. Night witches tend to prefer heavier weapons (MG 151, MG FF, HS.404) paired with heavy fighter strikers (Bf 110, Ju 88, F7F Tigercat), in very much the same way real WWII night fighters tended to be heavy fighters with lots of firepower. While less manoeuvrable, heavy fighter strikers offer witches better load-bearing capacity as well as stronger shields, the latter being especially valuable as night witches typically operate alone.
The standardized witch version of the MG 151/20 features a top-mounted pistol grip, a horizontal off-hand grip, and a detachable drum magazine.
=Saint-Trond airbase shipping manifest=
Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke is seen signing for a shipment of weapons, ammo, and other supplies for the base at Saint-Trond. The list is actually written in German, which isn't surprising as the series is consistent about written elements being in native languages; like many TV shows, the characters are generally speaking Japanese for the audience, rather than actually doing so all the time in-universe.
=Vehicle-Mounted & Stationary Weapons=
==MG 34 Panzerlauf==
Tiger I tanks from Karlsland, alongside M4 Shermans from Liberion and supported by infantry, are seen advancing on spider-like ground-based Neuroi in the 1943 prologue. Tigers are armed with a pair of MG 34 Panzerlaufs; one is hull-mounted, while the other is mounted coaxially to the 8.8cm KwK 36 main cannon. The Tigers seen here are actually all the pre-production version of the H1 variant, identifiable by the pair of storage boxes on the sides of the turret (as opposed to a single box at the rear) as well as the lack of mud guards. Due to sharing the same model, all the Tigers share the same number, 100, which (including its white elephant artwork) was a real life Tiger H1; Tiger 100 was captured intact by the Russians during the war.
==Browning M1919A4==
In addition to the tripod-mounted M1919A4 listed above, tank-mounted versions are used by M4 Sherman tanks, with one hull-mounted machine gun and one coaxial machine gun, next to the 75mm M3 main cannon; the Shermans also have a roof-mounted M2HB.
==Browning M2HB==
M4 Sherman tanks feature a pintle-mounted M2HB on top of the turret. In addition to the prologue, M4s are seen later in the film, under attack at Bastogne. Sharing the same model, all of the Shermans are marked with the serial number "U.S.L. 3033434".
Additionally, a dual-mounted pair of M2HBs is the armament of the 501st JFW's Elco PT-103-class PT boat, which Charlotte and Francesca used to reach Venezia. The PT-103-class normally has a second dual turret further back, however the 501st's example has been modified to remove it, the rear Oerlikon 20mm cannon, and all four torpedo tubes, replacing them with a pair of striker launch units. As such, this configuration isn't so much a torpedo boat as it is a transport and mobile launch platform, with the single turret for self-defence; whether this setup is a common (in-universe) sub-class intended for Liberion witch units, or a one-of modification at Charlotte's request is unknown. Given the design details, the animators most likely used PT-109 as reference material; this PT boat was famously commanded by then-Lieutenant John F. Kennedy.
==Type 97==
An F1M2 floatplane attached to the battleship Yamato is piloted by Mio Sakamoto during the climactic battle; this is most definitely the same F1M seen in the second season. The F1M2 is armed with two Type 97 aircraft machine guns for offence, though Mio doesn't actually fire a shot in the movie, despite having at least one notable opportunity; it's possible that in her rush to get airborne there simply wasn't time to fully prep the aircraft.
==Type 92==
The Type 92, a Japanese copy of the Lewis Gun, is the rear gunner armament of the F1M2. With no one to operate it, the Type 92 also goes unused in the film.
thumb|none|400px|Type 92 - 7.7x56mmR
==12.8cm FlaK 40==
Multiple 12.8cm FlaK 40 anti-aircraft cannons are used by Venezian troops to defend their city from a sudden Neuroi attack, before Francesca and Charlotte take over.
==2cm FlaKVierling 38==
The 502nd JFW, the Brave Witches, have a small frontline base near Petersburg, which is defended by several FlaKVierling 38 quad-cannons. In real world production terms, this was the first time members of the Brave Witches cast were seen in the show.
==Bofors 40mm L/60==
Saint-Trond airbase in Belgica is defended by large AA batteries which appear to be oversized twin-mounted Bofors guns. Numerous AA guns also defend the Noble Witches' base in Sedan.
==8.8cm FlaK 36==
Three FlaK 36 AA guns in the Ardennes are seen firing at hordes of Ba 349 Natter style Neuroi. While they destroy a few, the sheer number of Neuroi quickly demolish the artillery position.
==Naval Weapons==
A large fleet engages a flying wing Neuroi in 1943, aircraft carrier Amagi travels to Europe with six Akizuki-class escorts, and the repaired battleship Yamato returns to assist in the final battle, humorously fitted with giant floats to allow it to travel up the Rhine. All the ship models originally appeared in Strike Witches 2, and as such it's worth noting that as the 1943 fleet is implied to have been entirely (or at least mostly) sunk, most of the ships depicted cannot truly have been present here, as they appear later, either specifically by name or because there aren't enough ships in their class for them to have been lost. As such, the ships seen in 1943 should be considered representative of other, similar ships and/or ship classes. For the very lengthy list of all the armament aboard these ships, see the second season page.
Category:Anime
Category:War
Category:Science-Fiction
Category:Japanese Produced/Filmed