Strike Witches 2

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Strike Witches 2 (2010)

March, 1945, six months have passed since the destruction of the Neuroi hive over Gallia by the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, the Strike Witches. Semi-retired Fuso Imperial Navy Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji is living peacefully back home in Fuso when she receives another letter from her late father, Ichiro Miyafuji, an engineer and original designer of the Striker Units that Witches use to fly and fight against the invading aliens known as the Neuroi.

Meanwhile, in the skies over Venezia the 504th Joint Fighter Wing, the Ardor Witches, are undertaking an operation with the goal of attempting to communicate with a Witch-like Neuroi, similar to one that had tried to communicate peacefully with Yoshika the previous year. However, before contact could be made a new, far larger Neuroi hive formed over Venezia, killing the Witch-Neuroi and entirely obliterating the existing hive. Back in Fuso, Yoshika, now with Squadron Leader Mio Sakamoto, overhears a desperate radio transmission from Flight Sergeant Lynette Bishop of Britannia, another former Strike Witches member. Despite Mio's initial objections, Yoshika ends up accompanying Mio back to Europe, where the 501st is reassembled to combat this sinister new threat.

Brave Witches (released in 2016), which follows the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing, takes place before Strike Witches 2, as does the The Sky That Connects Us manga, which follows the Strike Witches' lives between the two seasons. In chronological order, Strike Witches 2 is followed by Strike Witches: Operation Victory Arrow.

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.

The following weapons were used in the anime series Strike Witches 2:

Pistols

Nambu Type 14

In a flashback, Mio Sakamoto, nearing the end of her days as a Witch, has Petty Officer Keisuke Hijikata use a Nambu Type 14 to test Mio's weakening shield.

Nambu Type 14 - 8x22mm Nambu

Petty Officer Hijikata hesitantly fires his Nambu. (Ep.2)

Mio's shield blocks the 8mm bullet, but with considerable strain. (Ep.2)

Hijikata aims his Type 14 again... (Ep.2)

...and fires. (Ep.2)

Shield failing completely, the bullet takes a few of Mio's hairs as it sails by. (Ep.2)

A dejected Mio looks down at the first bullet, lying on the sand. (Ep.2)

Beretta M1934

As promotional material for Strike Witches 2, Pilot Officer Francesca Lucchini of Romagna and Flight Lieutenant Charlotte Elwyn "Shirley" Yeager of the United States of Liberion had their respective sidearms released as airsoft replicas.

Francesca uses a stainless Beretta M1934 customized with black controls, the 501st JFW emblem on the grips, as well as her personal emblem and a gold banner with her name on the slide. Under the gold banner is marked ~Gratitudine di Maria~ (Gratitude of Maria). In episode 5, Dutchess Maria Pia of Romagna (inspired by the Italian princess of the same name) encountered Francesca in Rome, and the two spent the day together (including numerous homages to the film Roman Holiday), unaware who the other actually was (the head of state, and a Witch). After Francesca, Charlotte, and Yoshika defend Rome from a Neuroi attack, Maria gives a speech over the airwaves, vowing to do everything in her power to defend her country against the Neuroi threat, and sends the Strike Witches an airdrop of supplies. Francesca and Charlotte's matching pistols were likely in these crates, though they aren't seen in the anime.

Beretta M1934 - .380 ACP

Francesca holds her gift from Maria. (Art)

The Western Arms airsoft replica of Francesca's M1934, with a patch featuring her personal emblem.

Francesca watches a Romagnan Ju 52 fly over the 501st's base in Pescara, preparing to drop its supplies. (Ep.5)

Colt M1911A1

Charlotte also receives a custom pistol from Maria, an M1911A1 built to match Francesca's customized Beretta. The trademarks on the gun read Colette's PT.F.A.MFG.CO. (rather than "Colt's"), since, as with most country names, most manufacturer names are also variations of their real versions in the World Witches universe.

Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Charlotte poses with her custom M1911A1. (Art)

The Western Arms replica sits on a patch of Charlotte's personal emblem.

A confused Francesca wonders why the plane dropped a bunch of supply crates right on top of her. (Ep.5)

Rifles

Boys Mk I*

The Strike Witches' designated marksman, Lynette Bishop, continues to use a Boys Mk I* with its bipod removed as her signature weapon.

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

Lynette zooms in to glomp Yoshika, after punching a sizable hole straight through the Neuroi they've been fighting. (Ep.2)

A reverse view down the rifle's sights. (Ep.2)

Both being out of practice, Yoshika crashes into Lynette during training. (Ep.3)

Lynette fires her Boys at an exceptionally hard-armoured Neuroi. (Ep.3)

Lynette, Yoshika, and Pierrette-Henriette Clostermann locate the same Neuroi's core. (Ep.3)

After a beam damages one of her Ultramarine Spitfire Mk 22 Striker, Lynette gets some support from Yoshika. (Ep.3)

Lynette hesitantly aims her Boys at Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, so the latter can practice using a shield, something she never does thanks to her precognition. (Ep.6)

However, Eila stubbornly believes herself unable to raise a shield and simply dodges as usual, leaving an understandably distraught Perrine (who was standing in for Aleksandra Litvyak, who Eila needs to protect in their planned mission) blocking the massive 13.9mm bullet with her own shield at the last moment. This continues to happen until Lynette is out of ammo. (Ep.6)

Perrine accuses Yoshika of not trying her hardest in a training match, as Lynette serves as referee. Note the paintball/simunition-style training weapons, painted orange. (Ep.8)

Lynette takes on an absolutely enormous nuclear-bomb-inspired Neuroi all by herself. (Ep.8)

Lynette comes to terms with her situation as she stares down the behemoth. (Ep.8)

Utterly exhausted, an unconscious Lynette falls towards the sea, as Yoshika desperately races to catch her. (Ep.8)

Lynette watches as Yoshika and Perrine race towards a Neuroi. (Ep.9)

Yoshika protects the battleship Yamato and carrier Amagi during Operation Mars, as Lynette in turn covers Yoshika. (Ep.11)

Perrine and Lynette fight back to back as the battle drags out. (Ep.11)

Lynette clears the last of the small-type Neuroi blocking Yoshika's path, and cheers her on with the rest of the 501st. (Ep.12)

PzB 39

The PzB 39 anti-tank rifle is the weapon of choice of Flying Officer Ángela Salas Larrazábal of the Kingdom of Hispania (inspired by Spanish ace Ángel Salas Larrazábal), a member of the 504th Joint Fighter Wing, the Ardor Witches. Although from Hispania, she became an honorary member of the Romagnan Pantaloni Rossi ("Red Pants") unit, and as such wears their uniform. Off-screen, Ángela was seriously injured during the ill-fated Operation Trajanus, but is recovering.

Likely due to Ángela only having a cameo, it seems the animators simply reused Lynette's Boys rifle as reference material.

PzB 39 - 7.92x94mm Patronen

Ángela Larrazábal (right) flies alongside Luciana Mazzei, both (incorrectly) armed with Boys rifles. (Ep.1)

Official artwork of Ángela with her PzB 39, alongside Flying Officer Wendelin Schröer in North Africa. Note the pouch for spare rounds attached to the rifle. The witch in the tent appears to be Raisa Pöttgen, who appears later in the anime. (Art)

Solothurn S-18/1000

Pilot Officer Luciana Mazzei of Romanga, a member of the Pantaloni Rossi and Ardor Witches, uses the absolutely gigantic Solothurn S-18/1000 as the 504th's designated marksman.

As with Ángela's PzB 39, Luciana's S-18/1000 is depicted as a Boys rifle in its brief appearance.

Solothurn S-18/1000 - 20x138mmB

Luciana (left) hovers alongside fellow Ardor Witches Junko Takei, Fernandia Malvezzi, and Martina Crespi as Venezia falls to the new Neuroi hive. (Ep.1)

Luciana aims her S-18/1000 in official artwork, complete with scope. This is almost certainly the largest weapon used as standard by a Witch. (Art)

PU scope for Mosin-Nagant

A PU scope, designed for the Mosin-Nagant rifle, is seen quite inexplicably mounted to a fire hose, together with a pistol grip assembly.

Mosin-Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mmR

Francesca takes aim at Perrine, with a rather accurate reticle. (Ep.7)

Francesca prepares to fire the pistol grip equipped, scoped fire hose. Because.. why not? (Ep.7)

Machine Guns

Bren Mk1 (M)

Despite the liberation of Gallia, Flying Officer Pierrette-Henriette "Perrine" Clostermann continues to use the Britannian-made Bren Mk1 (M) as her weapon of choice, likely for a combination of having become very familiar with the weapon type, and (though Perrine would never admit to such sentimentality) an attachment to Britannia after serving there as part of the 501st.

Bren Mk1 (M) - .303 British

Pierrette unleashes her Tonnerre special ability during the first battle. (Ep.2)

Perrine clutches her Bren to her chest as she watches her beloved Squadron Leader Sakamoto charge a Neuroi with nothing but her newly forged katana, Reppumaru. (Ep.2)

Perrine instinctively levels her Bren at a mysterious bucket of water that fell out of the sky. (Ep.3)

As Lynette rides Yoshika for support, Perrine provides additional fire with her Bren gun. (Ep.3)

A view down the sights of a training Bren as Perrine and Yoshika engage in a mock battle. (Ep.8)

Perrine wins her first of three matches against Yoshika, giving a good view of the underside of her Arsenal VG-39bis Striker. (Ep.8)

Lynette, Yoshika, and Perrine break formation to avoid a Neuroi beam. (Ep.9)

Perrine is impressed the performance of Yoshika's new Striker. (Ep.9)

As Perrine and Yoshika engage a Neuroi that seems to be inspired by the U-2, Perrine advises Yoshika to not get too far away on her own. (Ep.9)

Yoshika and Perrine continue spearheading the attack, moments before Lynette punches a hole in the Neuroi's right "wing". (Ep.9)

A good side-view of Perrine's Bren moments before she gets incredibly mad at the Neuroi for damaging a bridge. (Ep.9)

"How dare you strike the bridge!" (Ep.9)

Perrine fires her Bren at a large Neuroi inspired by the Horten Ho XIII, revealing its core and allowing Mio to destroy it with her devastatingly powerful Reppuzan katana attack. (Ep.11)

Perrine and Lynette are suddenly surrounded by a swarm of small-type Neuroi, before Mio charges in attempting to destroy them. (Ep.11)

Perrine gives Yoshika some words of encouragement, while holding her Bren one-handed, supported by its sling. (Ep.12)

Unleashing Tonnerre once again, Perrine obliterates a group of Neuroi. (Ep.12)

Browning M1918A2

Flight Lieutenant Charlotte Yeager continues to use a BAR as her standard weapon. Although holding drastically less ammo than the other Witches' weapons, the BAR is well-suited to Shirley's preference for speed, being a far lighter and more compact gun.

Browning M1918A2 - .30-06

Flying to meet the supply fleet, unaware they have been attacked, Charlotte and Francesca Lucchini discuss tasty food. Which they agree on, right up until Francesca says "octopus". (Ep.2)

A great shot of the BAR's receiver, as the pair rushes forward upon hearing a distress call. (Ep.2)

Charlotte zooms past Yoshika as she arrives to help, both of them equally surprised to see the other. (Ep.2)

Charlotte fires her BAR, while complaining this Neuroi is unusually tough. (Ep.2)

Getting ready for a load-carrying competition with Gertrud Barkhorn, Charlotte's BAR deploys from the launch unit, while she herself is carrying ten spare magazines. (Ep.4)

Holding her BAR, Shirley gives praise to her ever-reliable P-51 Striker. (Ep.4)

Charlotte fires her M1918A2 at the main section of a Vostok-inspired Neuroi. (Ep.4)

Charlotte and the Neuroi fly circles around each other, exchanging fire. (Ep.4)

Finally getting a clear shot, Charlotte pulls the trigger... (Ep.4)

...only for the BAR to jam. (Ep.4)

Charlotte and Yoshika join up with a very enthusiastic Francesca in defense of Rome. (Ep.5)

The Liberian and Fuso Witches cover the Romagnan, as she defends her homeland. (Ep.5)

Members of the 501st discover their latest foe: An obelisk-shaped Neuroi that is one-hundred-thousand feet tall, with the core at the very top. None of their guns are going to be of any use here. (Ep.6)

Shirley spins Francesca around, releases her into a group of Neuroi with her shield-stacking ability active, then takes out the disoriented Neuroi with her BAR. (Ep.11)

"Hang in there, Lucchini!" (Ep.11)

The rest of the Strike Witches return to help Yoshika, as Shirley rests her BAR on her hip like a badass. (Ep.12)

Browning M1919A6

Pilot Officer Francesca Lucchini continues to use the Liberion-made Browning M1919A6 as her primary armament.

Browning M1919A6 - .30-06

Francesca's M1919A6 strapped to her back as she imagines eating octopus. A very different reaction to Shirley's. (Ep.2)

Francesca greets her old squadron member, M1919A6 in hand. (Ep.2)

And the family reunion keeps getting bigger! (Ep.2)

A fantastic formation shot of all of the Strike Witches (sans Mio) back together, fully armed and ready to take names. (Ep.2)

Francesca readies her signature shield stacking move, with her Browning hanging by its sling. (Ep.2)

Francesca trades fire with one of the four booster sections of the Vostok-inspired Neuroi, giving a good look at her M1919A6 and Farotto G.55S Strega Striker. (Ep.4)

Launching from St. Peter's Square, where she was visiting with Maria, Francesca heads up to engage a Neuroi over Rome. (Ep.5)

Readying her shield attack, Francesca prepares to ram the enemy. (Ep.5)

Yoshika provides cover fire with her Type 99 and Francesca speeds past... (Ep.5)

...straight through the Neuroi. Francesca's M1919A6 and upper torso can be seen emerging from the alien being/craft, which is surprisingly small by Neuroi standards. (Ep.5)

The Neuroi shatters into fragments, as the proud Romagnan flies over her capital city. (Ep.5)

Needing to get back to her date with Maria, Francesca tosses her Browning to Yoshika for safekeeping. (Ep.5)

With the rest of the 501st, Francesca hovers over the large Neuroi dome encapsulating Valletta, Malta. (Ep.10)

That... is another Halo hive. (Ep.11)

Francesca plows through a bunch of UFO-looking Neuroi with her shields, setting Shirley up to mow them down. (Ep.11)

Helping clear a path for Yoshika, Francesca gives her a cheer. (Ep.12)

MG 34

Flight Lieutenant Hanna-Justina Wallia Rosalind Sieglinde Marseille (inspired by German ace Hans-Joachim Marseille) of the 31st Joint Fighter Squadron Afrika, the Storm Witches, uses an MG 34. Having earned quite a fan-following and called the "Star of Africa", Hanna is also known to own a Beretta M1934 with a tan finish, which was presented to her as a gift. Unlike nearly every other weapon used by Witches, Hanna retains the bipod on her MG 34, in order to use it as a foregrip.

MG 34 - 7.92mm Mauser

Erica Hartmann and Hanna Marseille race to see who can destroy the most target balloons. Being stationed in North Africa, Hanna uses a Messerscharf Bf 109 G-2/trop Striker, with its distinctive sand filter over the supercharger intake visible here. (Ep.10)

Unsatisfied with a tie, Hanna aims her loaded MG 34 at Erica and claims victory. Minna is furious. (Ep.10)

Having entered the Neuroi dome covering Malta via I-400-class submarine, Erica and Hanna launch. (Ep.10)

Erica and Hanna fight back to back, lighting up the air with their machine guns. (Ep.10)

The Karlslanders fly higher in the dome; Hanna's use of the bipod as a grip can be seen here. (Ep.10)

Racing each other to destroy the core, the two lay down fire with their weapons. (Ep.10)

Still tied, Hanna and Erica decide to settle their score with a live-fire duel. The first to use a shield or run out of ammo loses. (Ep.10)

Hanna barrel rolls while firing her MG 34. (Ep.10)

You're empty. (Ep.10)

So are you. (Ep.10)

MG 42

The Karlsland trio, Wing Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, Flight Lieutenant Gertrud Barkhorn, and Flying Officer Erica Hartmann, along with Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen of Suomus, all continue to use MG 42s modified to use the Patronentrommel 34 drum magazine. The MG 42 is also used by Romagnan Witches Flying Officer Fernandia Malvezzi and Flight Sergeant Martina Crespi, of the Ardor Witches.

MG 42 - 7.92mm Mauser

MG 34 with Patronentrommel 34 for reference - 7.92mm Mauser

Fernandia Malvezzi holds her MG 42 as the 504th JFW approaches the Neuroi hive; Martina Crespi is off-screen to her left. (Ep.1)

With the whole squadron back together again, Minna orders them forward. Gertrud and Erica can be seen near the bottom of the shot, while Minna's MG 42 is hanging off-screen (though its sling is visible). (Ep.2)

Eila Juutilainen fires her MG 42 one-handed, dragging Sanya Litvyak with her other hand, while dodging Neuroi beams. (Ep.2)

Out of ammo, Gertrud flips her MG 42s around... (Ep.2)

...and proceeds to use them as clubs. Amazingly, this doesn't damage the guns at all. (Ep.2)

Erica fires at one of the booster sections of the Vostok-inspired Neuroi, giving a nice close-up of her MG 42. (Ep.4)

Singing a tune in her head, Eila engages a swarm of small-type Neuroi at treetop-level, without a care in the world. (Ep.6)

Gertrud and Erica take off on a commando raid, showing off Gertrud's Flak-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 Striker. (Ep.7)

As the task force nears Malta, Minna radios Erica and Hanna, asking if they're ready to go. (Ep.10)

Erica and Hanna fight back-to-back inside the Neuroi dome over Malta, though more for necessity rather than camaraderie. (Ep.10)

Their second duel over, Erica and Hanna point their empty machine guns at each other. Another tie. (Ep.10)

Erica and Gertrud blitz through some Neuroi with their usual tactic of overwhelming firepower. (Ep.11)

Smoke leaves the barrel of Minna's MG 42, having just taken out a Neuroi threatening Mio. (Ep.11)

Making a habit out of this, Eila once again drags Sanya around while firing her MG 42. (Ep.11)

Determined to protect her friends at all costs, Minna levels her MG 42. (Ep.12)

Ready for another round, Gertrud and Erica prepare themselves for takeoff. (Ep.12)

Minna takes out a few dozen Neuroi as she urges Yoshika on. This is also an excellent shot of Minna's Messerscharf Bf 109 K-4 Striker; Erica and Eila also upgraded to the K-4. (Ep.12)

Gertrud spins in a circle while firing her MG 42s, obliterating a wave of Neuroi. (Ep.12)

Holding her MGs, Gertrud cheers on Yoshika. (Ep.12)

Eila reads a tarot card for Yoshika, as her own form of wishing her luck. (Ep.12)