Luminous Witches

Five long years after the Neuroi invaded Europe, with setback after setback and loss after loss, humanity's morale is at an all-time low. Determined to continue doing what she can, retired witch Grace Steward has been attempting to get more funding and resources for the Aviation Magic Band, but is making little progress with the disinterested League of Nations Air Force brass. Not willing to give up on her desire to bring some measure of happiness to the war-weary public, Grace sets out to recruit more members for the Band, which will ultimately number nine in addition to herself; the 72nd Joint Fighter Squadron soon earns the name Luminous Witches, and sets out on a world tour.
With a roster of witches who, for a variety of reasons are unable to serve on the frontlines, Luminous Witches is not as combat-focused as other stories in the World Witches universe. Instead, the 72nd JFS is effectively a combination of air demonstration squadron (akin to the more modern Red Arrows, Blue Angels, or Snowbirds) and USO Tour, entertaining civilian and military audiences alike with aerobatics and music. The story begins in March, 1944 as Virginia "Ginny" Robertson makes her way to London from her home in rural Scotland, having until then lived a simple farming life without real appreciation for her talents as a witch. The Luminous Witches visit many locations not before seen in the Witches universe, and encounter many new and established characters during their mission to spread happiness through the power of music. For a world map featuring the Luminous Witches' world tour route, see the Talk Page.
Luminous Witches begins the same month as Strike Witches and takes place alongside as well as after that season, then continues parallel the first half of Brave Witches.
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 spoilers for the series, read at your own risk.
__TOC__
=Pistols=
==Tokarev TT-33==
An Orussian officer at the LNAF meeting is seen with a holster for a Tokarev TT-33; the other officers, all of various nations, presumably have their own service pistols as well. The continued existence of the League of Nations is an excellent example of how much of the turmoil and political unrest of the real world 1920s/30s never came to pass in this universe.
=Rifles=
==Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*==
The Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* makes two small appearances, more notably in the hands of a Britannian sentry at RAF Heston, as well as what is most likely also an SMLE slung over the shoulder of a Free Gallian soldier in his recently liberated homeland.
=Machine Guns=
==Browning M1918A2==
In a flashback to Operation Dynamo in 1941, Captain Grace Steward and her two wingmen do what they can to cover the Dunkirk beachhead, armed with BARs. As with all witches, Grace is inspired by a real world military aviator; fitting her role in the story, she's based on actor and B-24 Liberator pilot James "Jimmy" Stewart, who would eventually retire as a brigadier general.
==Degtyaryov DP-27==
Future Luminous Witches member Lyudmila "Milasha" Ruslanova and other Orussian witches are armed with DP-27s in a flashback. It's also standard issue for Free Gallian witches serving on the Eastern Front, such as Rosalie de La Poype of the 503rd Joint Fighter Wing. This marks the animated debut of the Typhoon Witches, which leaves the 505th Joint Fighter Wing as the last of the eight JFWs to not have an anime appearance thus far; the Mirage Witches feature prominently in the Contrail of Witches manga.
==MG 42==
The witch-version MG 42, redesigned to use Patronentrommel 34 drum magazines, is held by future Luminous Witches member Aira Linnamaa in another flashback. This flashback was originally captioned as taking place in 1941, which would make the MG 42 anachronistic, however the BD release corrected this to 1942. This correction is further reinforced by official artwork that depicts Aira using a KP/-31 before this, standard among Suomus witches prior to the MG 42. While the other eight performers are inspired by period singers rather than pilots, Aira is based on a pilot (Aarre Linnamaa) due to her combat experience.
MG 42s are also used by Alexandra Şerbănescu and Ottilie Kittel of the Typhoon Witches, while another is seen in the hands of Yoshika Miyafuji in a scene that parallels the sixth episode of Strike Witches.
==Ho-103==
The Ho-103 appears in the hands of Imperial Fuso Army witches Fumiyo Kawaguchi and Tomomi Nishisugi. Although the Ho-103 has been seen in various manga, used by other Army witches such as Amaki Suwa (who appeared in Strike Witches and Strike Witches 2, unarmed), this is the gun's first appearance in a Witches anime. Also of note, Tomomi's appearance in the finale episode's night witch sequence is set a fair bit after sunrise, respecting the time zone difference between Europe and Fuso.
The witch version of the Ho-103 features an added pistol grip, off-hand grip, and ammo box, but is otherwise unmodified.
==MG 131==
Waltraud Nowotny of the 503rd JFW is briefly seen flying alongside her fellow squadron members, presumably armed with the MG 131 that she's known to use. Waltraud and the remaining 503rd members not seen in combat (Bronislava Safonov, Huberta von Bonin, and Galina Kostylev) all receive a proper cameo in the final episode.
==Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai==
The iconic witch variant of the Type 99 makes the smallest of cameos, slung behind Yoshika's back. This scene takes place shortly after the climactic fight in the sixth episode of the first season of Strike Witches, which aired fourteen years previous.
For the rather lengthy technical explanation of the witches' Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai variant, see its first season entry.
=Autocannons=
==MG 151/20==
Karlsland night witches Heinrike Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Heidemarie Schnaufer make an appearance in the finale, armed as usual with MG 151/20 cannons.
=Launchers=
==Fliegerhammer==
Aleksandra Litvyak makes a second cameo in the finale alongside the other night witches, armed with a Fliegerhammer. Based on the Fliegerfaust and designed by Ursula Hartmann, the Fliegerhammer is a fictional nine-barrel rocket launcher, its heavy firepower a good companion for a night witch. The finale performance taking place on December 26, 1944 puts her in the skies over Petersburg, as she and Eila were visiting the Brave Witches at this time, covered in the Brave Witches OVA (Episode 7.5). As such, this is almost certainly the same Fliegerhammer Sanya uses in the battle on New Year's Eve later in that same episode.
For additional details, see its first season entry.
=Britannian propaganda poster=
One of many propaganda posters in London features a stylized depiction of a Britannian witch and her rifle. The gun is difficult to identify due to its simplified nature, but it bears resemblance to the M1 Carbine. Given that the witch is clearly based on Mio Sakamoto (though not in an in-universe sense) it may instead be the Fuso witches' Type 99.
=Vehicle-Mounted & Stationary Weapons=
==Browning .303 Mk II*==
For their world tour the 72nd JFS is assigned a Lancaster Mk I, serial number W4113 and given the squadron code LW-A. The Lancaster is armed with eight Browning .303 Mk II* machine guns, two in the nose turret, two in the dorsal turret, and four in the tail turret. The Luminous Witches' Lancaster is not fresh off the assembly line, but rather a war-weary Lancaster that has seen more than its share of combat missions. The bomber's interior gets a rather notable amount of screen time, serving as the setting for many scenes between concerts, and Grace is often seen manning the aircraft's wireless station.
In reality, Lancaster W4113 served with No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF and bore the squadron code GP-J, while "LW" was the squadron code for No. 318 (Polish) Squadron RAF.
==Breda-SAFAT 12.7mm machine gun==
During a compilation of most of the characters' assignments before joining the Aviation Magic Band, an airfield in Harwich, Essex is seen serving as the base for the Romagnan 56º Stormo, where Silvie Cariello (or in full, Silvana Adelaide di Carignano) was previously stationed. 56º Stormo being based in Harwich is a reference to the real world Corpo Aereo Italiano, which flew alongside the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain; Harwich and the nearby seaplane base RAF Felixstowe were frequent targets of the CAI.
Several dozen Romagnan fighters are seen at the airbase, and though the specific model of aircraft is uncertain from this distance, due to its ubiquity they are certainly armed with Breda-SAFAT machine guns chambered in 12.7mm. Given their proportionally short wingspan and long fuselage as well as an apparent upper wing, they may be C.R.42 Falco fighters. Entering service in 1939, the C.R.42 was a very modern design despite being a biplane, well-respected as a fighter during the early years of the war; the Falco was indeed flown by 56º Stormo during the Battle of Britain.
==Rodman Model 1861==
The final concert of the world tour is held at Fort Jay, a coastal bastion on Governors Island in New York Harbor, built at the turn of the 19th century. Being by this point a historic landmark rather than a legitimate military fortification, Fort Jay retains just five of its Rodman Model 1861 cannons, specifically one 15-inch and four 10-inch guns. After a photo of the fort is shown to the group by Grace, Maria Dietrich gives a brief explanation of Fort Jay, mentioning it has a history going back well over one-hundred years (in 1944). The five preserved Rodman guns at Fort Jay are still present there in the real world today.
==Naval Weapons==
Only one armed military ship appears this season, the Liberian Sangamon-class escort carrier USS Santee, seen shortly after arriving at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard. She is armed with two 5"/51 Mark 15 cannons for some degree of anti-surface protection, along with four twin 40mm/56 Mark 1 and Mark 2 autocannons (Mark 1 being the left-hand gun in the pair, Mark 2 the right) and twelve 20mm/70 Mark 4 autocannons for a much more potent anti-air screen. Santee is home to VF-26, Joanna Stafford's then-current squadron.
Category:Anime
Category:War
Category:Science-Fiction
Category:Japanese Produced/Filmed