KING & COUNTRY U.S.M.C. USMC014
Overview
Introduction and general overview
Manufacturing specifics and product details
Historical context: Battle of Tarawa
Collector notes: identification, variants, market pricing
King & Country’s USMC014 “Marine Firing his Garand” captures a U.S. Marine in the iconic stance of standing and firing his M1 Garand during WWII. Released as part of the USMC “Tarawa” series, this 1:30 scale figure emphasizes realism with fine sculpting, dynamic pose, and accurate gear. Introduced in the mid‑2010s, it’s still commonly found on the secondary market. This review discusses its production specifics, historical inspiration in the Battle of Tarawa, and important considerations for collectors regarding variants, condition, and value.
Historical Background
The figure depicts a U.S. Marine from the 2nd Marine Division during the Battle of Tarawa, fought from November 20 to 23, 1943, on Betio islet in the Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. Tasked with securing this strategic launch point in the Central Pacific, roughly 12,000 Marines assaulted well‑fortified Japanese positions, defended by approximately 4,500 troops entrenched in concrete bunkers, pillboxes, and shell‑cratered terrain. The M1 Garand, a .30‑caliber semi‑automatic rifle with an 8‑round clip, effective to about 500 yards, was the Marine Corps’ standard service rifle and central to their marksmanship doctrine (treefrogtreasures.com). Facing ferocious resistance, Marines sustained about 3,146 casualties, including nearly 1,000 killed and over 2,000 wounded, within just 76 hours of combat (reddit.com).
The battle marked the first time American forces encountered serious Japanese resistance during an amphibious landing—a harsh introduction to Pacific island warfare. Japanese defenders fought almost to the last man, demonstrating both tactical determination and strategic miscalculation. The battle’s high cost underscored lessons in pre‑landing bombardment, reef obstacles, and command coordination, shaping future amphibious operations toward better planning, logistics support, and casualty evacuation procedures.
Collector Notes
Identification: USMC014 “Marine Firing his Garand” is confirmed by Treefrog Treasures listing noting both SKU and pose (treefrogtreasures.com). It belongs to the Tarawa themed USMC series by King & Country. Variants & Paint: Typically produced in standard olive drab uniforms with accurately rendered webbing gear and M1 Garand rifle. There are no known chase variants, though careful examination of rifle metal finish or shading may indicate production batches. Packaging & Condition: Originally sold in full‑colour presentation box, often with Tarawa artwork. Seek figures retaining original foam liners and box to command premium value. Common defects include bent rifle barrel, chipped bayonet lug, or paint wear on face and hands. Market Pricing: Original retail around US$39.00.
Current secondary market prices range from US$40–60 depending on condition and packaging completeness (treefrogtreasures.com). A boxed, mint example may fetch closer to US$60. Loose or damaged figures may go for US$30–40. Display & Diorama Use: Ideal for dynamic beach assault dioramas due to standing, firing pose. It complements other Tarawa‑themed figures like USMC029 “Running Marine” and USMC024 “Kneeling Firing Carbine” for varied action scene setups (sagerssoldiers.com).
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