In late October 1985, "Swordfish" was delayed in departing Pearl Harbor due to the failure of the drain pump. A replacement was obtained from , in the shipyard for decommissioning, but "Swordfish" put to sea before the pump was fully connected and tested, and the crew could not get the pump to operate. Since the engine room bilges could not be pumped, by the evening of 23 October, the first day at sea, the water in the engine room lower level bilge was over the deck plates (more than four feet). The crew tried to use a portable submersible pump, but were not successful.