On the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, shocking colorized photographs show the horror of the attack that claimed more than 2,400 lives and pulled the US into the Second World War

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The full horror of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour has been laid bare in newly colorized pictures released on the 76th anniversary of the assault.

In just 90 minutes, more than 2,400 US servicemen and civilians lost their lives while 17 ships were damaged or lost - dragging America into the Second World War and forever changing the course of the conflict.

The pictures here show the wrecks of the USS California, which sank after being hit by two torpedoes and two bombs, and the USS Oklahoma, which was holed by four torpedoes and capsized.

Others reveal the damage done on shore as Navy fighter planes were blown up without the chance to take off and hangars set ablaze during the surprise assault.

Newly colorized images have brought home the full horror of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the 76th anniversary of the assault (pictured, the USS West Virginia, which was hit by seven torpedoes)

In just 90 minutes more than 2,400 Americans lost their lives and seventeen ships were damaged or lost. Of the sailors who perished, more than half were killed when the forward magazine of the USS Arizona exploded (pictured, damaged ships)

The attack initially proved a huge success, allowing the Japanese to expand rapidly into the Pacific and south east Asia, but ultimately saw the country defeated by America (pictured, the USS Shaw after two bombs penetrated its forward magazine)

The devastation left behind after the attack was bleak, but only three ships were permanently destroyed. Among them was the USS Oklahoma (pictured here, covered by smoke). Also pictured here is the USS California, which was sunk by later raised

Pictured right is the keel of the USS Oklahoma which was  hit by five torpedoes, the last two of which struck above her belt armor and caused her to capsize

Of the 402 American aircraft in Hawaii, 188 were destroyed and 159 damaged. Almost none were ready to take off to defend the base when the attack started, and just eight managed to get airborne during the attack. 

Of the sailors killed, almost half died when the USS Arizona exploded after its forward magazine was hit by a shell.

Despite the devastation the Japanese left behind, 14 of the 17 damaged ships returned to service later in the war. The Arizona, the Oklahoma and the USS Utah - a training ship - were the only ones to be permanently destroyed. 

The attack was part of a campaign of Pacific expansion undertaken by Imperial Japan that was intent on carving out an Asian empire to rival those of Europe.

Clearing the US base on Hawaii was seen as vital to capturing the Philippines, Guam, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong from the Americans, British and Dutch.

Airmen watch helpless as fighter planes burn after being destroyed without the change to take off. During the entire attack, just eight aircraft managed to take off, six of which were credited with shooting down at least one Japanese

An aircraft hangar on Ford Island burns after the attack. Of the 404 American aircraft at the Hawaii base, 188 were destroyed and 159 damaged, almost all of which were on the ground

View from the other side: Japanese sailors wave at their pilots as they prepare to launch the surprise assault

Japan used 354 planes launched in two waves to devastate the US Navy. Here, some of those planes prepare to take off

While the plan initially led to huge gains for the Japanese, making an enemy of America would eventually prove to be their downfall as the territories were recaptured, and the war eventually ended with nuclear bombs being dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Admiral Hara Tadaichi summed up the Japanese result by saying: 'We won a great tactical victory at Pearl Harbor and thereby lost the war.'

The photographs are the work of Cardiff-based British electrician, Royston Leonard, 55, who painstakingly added color to the images: 'The photos show what was an island at peace hit by the horror of war.

'They are a reminder that no matter how much you want peace it can be taken in a moment. I've been colourising pictures of Pearl Harbour for quite some time now, it's a project that's been ongoing for over three years now.

'I think the key message to take from the photos is to never take peace for granted and always be ready. If they had been ready at Pearl Harbour the loss of people and equipment might've been less.'