Strike Witches: The Movie

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Strike Witches: The Movie (2012)

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.

The following weapons were used in the anime film Strike Witches: The Movie:

Pistols

Beretta M1934

A Beretta M1934 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 an M1934 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.

Beretta M1934 - .380 ACP

A stitched sequence of Heinrike loading a magazine, switching the safety off, and racking the slide; the first round visibly slides into the chamber as well.

Heinrike holds her Beretta as Rosalie informs her they can't contact B-unit at Dijon.

Official artwork of Adriana duel-wielding Fliegerhammers, with her MG 42 slung behind her back and her M1934 in its holster. Seeing a witch visibly carrying a sidearm is rather rare. (Art)

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 ships supporting them, before being destroyed by the Strike Witches.

MP 40 - 9x19mm

In 1943, a Karlsland soldier hipfires his MP 40 as he advances.

In St. Trond, Erica whines about her MP 40 magazines being too hard to load. Gertrud was just loading MG 42 belts with a loading tool, seen to the right.

Having discarded her inoperable MG 42, Erica draws her MP 40 from its small-of-the-back holster.

Unfolding the MP 40's stock. Note the three magazine pouches on her belt.

Erica and Gertrud fire on the Neuroi pursuing them.

Quickly changing direction, Erica dumps more lead behind her, as Gertrud and her take down the second Neuroi.

Erica lays down more fire as they destroy the third. Holding the gun by the magazine generally encourages jams, though in most other shots Erica is properly holding her MP 40 by the magwell.

After complaining that she's tired, Erica attempts to get an in-flight piggyback ride from Trude, resulting her her knocking off nearly all of their weapons and equipment.

Rifles

M1 Garand

In the 1943 prologue, Liberion troops are armed with M1 Garand rifles.

M1 Garand - .30-06

A Liberion soldier charges forward, carrying his M1 Garand.

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.

M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

A Liberion aims his M1 Carbine moments before their position is obliterated by a flying Neuroi. Note the M1919A4 on a tripod seen here as well.

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".

Boys Mk I* - .55 Boys (13.9x99mm B)

In 1943, Lynette takes aim at the large flying wing Neuroi with her Boys. This engagement is a callback to the very first fight in the series, the opening to the first episode of the first season, with this fight playing out very similarly to that one (though it's not the same engagement).

Moments later, Perrine Clostermann blocks incoming fire for Lynette, allowing her to make a precise shot and expose the Neuroi's core.

Returning to 1945, Isabelle and her rifle make an extremely brief, faceless cameo as she scrambles alongside Adriana Visconti and Kunika Kuroda.

Charlotte Yeager grabs Francesca Lucchini and a less-enthusiastic Lynette to perform a combo attack.

Lynette prepares to open fire on the swarm of torpedo-like small Neuroi.

Lynette takes aim at one of the transforming Neuroi that's threatening Mio Sakamoto's F1M floatplane...

...and fires. Quality screenshots of Lynette firing her rifle are hard to get, as it's always accompanied by massive screenshake, blurring, and flash.

Lynette's enormous rifle slung across her back, as she welcomes her dear friend Yoshika back into the sky.

Lynette with her Boys as the Strike Witches break formation to engage the massive U-Boat-like main Neuroi.

A much better look at Isabelle, her Boys rifle, and Spitfire Mk 22 striker in official artwork, taking down a Neuroi in the evening sky. (Art)