[2] For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder Vickers[3] 1,200-brake-horsepower (895 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft.

On the surface, the L class had a range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

Her greatest success led to her destruction, when on the morning of 3 October 1918, aged just under four months, the L10 surfaced in the Heligoland Bight with the mission of intercepting a German raiding party.

Although she turned and tried to flee, L10 was not fast enough to escape her pursuers and was rapidly chased down and sunk at 11:03 (CET) with all hands.

The discovery was made by the Danish company JD-Contractor, who were searching for the Polish Submarine ORP Orzeł.