She was designed by Mikhail Petrovich Nalyotov as the world's first submarine minelayer, although due to construction delays the German UC submarines entered service earlier.

This ship was built by the Naval yard in Nikolayev by the Black Sea (now Mykolaiv, Ukraine).

She was ordered in 1908, launched in September 1912 (or early 1913, sources differ) and entered service in 1915.

This submarine fought during World War I in the Black Sea Fleet.

She laid several minefields which accounted for the sinking of the Turkish gunboat Isa Reis and the Bulgarian torpedo boat Shumni as well as several merchant ships.