The Navy made incredible photos to show present-day Pearl Harbor compared to the day of the attack

U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Diana Quinlan

On December 7, 1941, the US naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, suffered a devastating attack from the air and sea.

The Japanese assault began at 7:48 a.m., resulting in the deaths of 2,402 Americans, numerous injuries, and the sinking of four battleships, and damage to many more.

Surprised US service members who normally would have slept in on that Sunday morning or enjoyed some recreation, found themselves fighting for their lives.

In 2013, the US Navy remembered the "day of infamy" with a series of photographs that compare scenes from that horrifying date to the present.

76 years after the attack, here's what it looked like, then and now:

Paul Szoldra contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Defenders on Ford Island watch for planes during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

The battleship USS California burns in the foreground as the battleship USS Arizona burns in the background after the initial attack on Pearl Harbor.

Defenders on Ford Island watch for planes.