Today marks 78 years since the beginning of America’s first WWII amphibious invasion – the Battle of Guadalcanal. | U.S. Marine Corps

In the aftermath of the legendary battle of Guadalcanal, US warship production accelerated rapidly. With new ships came the need for new names—the US Navy saw this as an opportunity to honor some of the heroes of this epic battle, including a number of notable firsts. Enter this epic battle of WWII during the premier of an all-new episode of Combat Ships, tonight at 8/7c! | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation