The Republic of Korea Navy was established on November 11, 1945, as the Marine Defense Group (later became the Korean Coast Guard) after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945. The Korean Coast Guard became the Republic of Korea Navy after the South Korean government was established on August 15, 1948. Since its inception and until the 1990s, the Republic of Korea Navy had acquired about 150 former United States Navy ships. As South Korea's economy grew, the ROK Navy was able to build larger and better equipped fleets with local shipbuilders.