AMERICAN STALINGRAD - CAN THE MARINES HOLD ON?

Once the Allied fleet retreated from the Guadalcanal area following the defeat at Savo Island, the primary objective for the abandoned Marines was getting the captured Japanese airfield on the Lunga plain operational as quickly as possible. Without air support, they were completely at the mercy of Japanese aerial and naval attacks, and highly vulnerable to ground assault. It was fortunate the Japanese were initially as nearly hamstrung as the Americans.