Perfect for a 15.75 inch board. Made in Italy. Superb detail. Beautifully crafted. 3.25 inch King. THE PIECES Exquisitely hand painted themed chess pieces by the renowned Italfama of Italy. The Air Force is led by a fine upstanding 4 star General supported by a female 4 star General. Both are smartly adorned in blue uniforms adorned with medals. The bishop is a fighter pilot with superb detail in the helmet, mask and breathing apparatus. The rook is striking, depicted by a rocket blasting off, complete with flame and billowing smoke. The Rook is represented by the emblem of The Department of the Air Force of the USA mounted on a scrolled column. Smartly dressed Air Force personnel make up the pawns in this contingent. Another medal bedecked General leads the US Marine Corps along with his female equivalent standing by his side. Both are very smartly adorned in dress uniform complete with medals. The Bishop is a lower ranking officer and the pawn is a camouflaged soldier complete with rifle. The Rook is again the USMC emblem atop a scrolled column, but the Knight is an impressive amphibious tank exiting the sea onto a sandy beach. For these outstanding chess men, we would recommend a board of approximately 16 inches. Our 15.75 inch Walnut and Maple Chess Board matches these pieces beautifully to make up The Air Force vs Marines Hand Painted Themed Chess Set. THE HISTORY On September 18, 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947, the United States became a separate military service. This Act created the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the US Department of Defense. It was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly created Air Force. Prior to implementation, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Navy, for sea-based operations from amphibious aircraft and aircraft carriers and the Army (for land-based operations). The Army created the first antecedent of the Air Force in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is an arm of the US Armed Forces and has been a component of the US Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834. They are responsible for providing power projection using the mobility of the US Navy by Congressional mandate to promptly deliver combined arms task forces on land sea and in the air. The USMC is one of seven uniformed services within the US and one of the four armed services in the US Department of Defence.