For the next four years, the submarine participated in training operations and the development of both defensive and offensive submarine tactics. On 28 May 1958, "Stickleback" was participating in an antisubmarine warfare exercise with the destroyer escort and a torpedo retriever in the Hawaiian area. The exercises continued into the afternoon of the next day when the submarine completed a simulated torpedo run on "Silverstein". As "Stickleback" was going to a safe depth, she lost power and broached approximately ahead of the destroyer escort. "Silverstein" backed full and put her rudder hard left in an effort to avoid a collision but holed the submarine on her port side.