Shortly after her commissioning, Hawkbill was assigned to Submarine Squadron Five in San Diego, California and commenced "Mother Sub" operations with DSRV 1 off San Clemente Island. On October 26, 1971, Hawkbill made submarine history with the first successful mating of a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), and welcomed aboard CAPT S. H. Packer, Commander Submarine Development Group One in the first submarine DSRV personnel transfer.
