On the morning of 7 December 1941, "Oglala" lay moored outboard of light cruiser alongside Ten Ten Pier, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. Around 07:55, her sailors began firing on attacking Japanese aircraft. A Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" carrier torpedo bomber released a torpedo that detonated near her port side in between her and "Helena". The blast ruptured her port hull and lifted fireroom floor plates, causing her to immediately take on water as, almost simultaneously, Japanese planes strafed her. Since the ship was receiving power from the dock, the crew was unable to start her pumps to deal with the deluge of water. This damage would later give her a reputation as "the only ship ever to sink from fright."