Offered by Over The Blue Horizon and recently obtained in Tokyo is an increasingly difficult-to-obtain MARU SPECIAL volume: “MARIANAS OPERATIONS”, Number 104, October 1985.

As serious Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) historians know, the 135-volume MARU SPECIAL series was published from 1975 to 1988.  Up through the 91st issue, they each focused on a naval vessel or family of vessels, most belonging to the IJN.  Beginning with Number 92, the focus expanded to include naval campaigns or periods of World War II history.  This particular MARU SPECIAL is among the later volumes and covers the IJN’s operations around the Marianas from 1943 to 1944 including the American invasion of Saipan and the ‘Great Marianas Turkey Shoot’.

All the MARU SPECIALs offer a very popular combination of period photographs (some with rare detail), line drawings, and affordability, and this one is no exception.  Although printed with Japanese text and regardless of the difficulty of translation, the MARU SPECIALs remain very popular with naval historians and IJN modelers and these out-of-print gems are still frequently referenced.  

This 88-page, 7.25 x 10.25 inch vintage classic has some great photographs, line drawings, and a color fold-out.  Condition is  VERY GOOD – it shows light shelf wear to the covers w/lightly 'bumped' corners but otherwise, this beauty is TIGHT, BRIGHT and CLEAN in every respect.  Note that Over the Blue Horizon ships from the USA with FREE United States Postal Service (USPS) First Class shipping to USA buyers! eBay charges sales tax for certain states; Over the Blue Horizon charges Hawaii residents state general excise tax. Your purchase will be carefully wrapped to ensure that it arrives in the same condition as described in the eBay listing.  If you are not happy with your purchase for whatever reason, we will work something out -- your satisfaction is GUARANTEED.  Regardless of where you are in the world, buy with confidence from a well-established eBay merchant with a sterling reputation and an exceptionally high customer satisfaction rate.