Spadefish was assigned Norfolk, Virginia, as her home port, and it remained her home port throughout her career. She was attached to Submarine Squadron 6.
Following shakedown in the Atlantic Ocean, Spadefish underwent post-shakedown repairs and alterations at Newport News from April to June 1970 and in July 1970 participated in antisubmarine warfareexercises in the North Atlantic Ocean. After returning to her home port, Norfolk, Virginia, she deployed in the Atlantic from October to December 1970 and then returned to Norfolk for upkeep.
On 18 February 1971, Spadefish got underway for her second deployment in the Atlantic, visiting Faslane, Scotland, before returning to Norfolk on 18 April 1971. She operated in the Norfolk area for the remainder of 1971, participating in antisubmarine warfare exercises and attack submarine training.
In 1972, Spadefish participated in training operations in the Norfolk area until deploying in the Atlantic from June to August, visiting Holy Loch, Scotland, before returning to Norfolk. She again deployed in the Atlantic on 10 October 1972 and returned to Norfolk on 17 December 1972.
Through June 1973, Spadefish operated out of Norfolk along theUnited States East Coast. She conducted independent exercises, afleet ballistic missile submarine security exercise, and independent attack submarine training. In May and June 1973, she supportedCruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 8 in an Atlantic readiness exercise and a sea control exercise. At the end of June 1973, she spent a week at the Isle of Portland in England, and, in July 1973, returned to the U.S. East Coast. At the beginning of September 1973, she commenced a major overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard inPortsmouth, Virginia.
Spadefish completed overhaul in July 1974 and resumed operations along the U.S. East Coast.
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