[2][3] The reduction in size resulted in the ships' seaworthiness being adversely affected, however,[2] and range being reduced,[4] with the 1911 and 1912 torpedo boats acquiring the disparaging nickname "Admiral Lans' cripples".

[10] The 14th half-flotilla,[e] including S22, formed part of a force of four light cruisers and 21 torpedo boats detached from the High Seas Fleet in support of the Baltic operations.

[13] On the night of 19/20 December 1915, the two torpedo boats S22 and S23 of the 7th Flotilla stopped the Swedish steamer Argo, suspected of carrying contraband to Russia near Simrishamn on the East coast of Sweden.

Argo rammed S22 and made off, ignoring a warning shot over her bows, with the two torpedo boats not opening fire as their commanding officer was unsure whether they were in Swedish territorial waters.

[15] On 25 March 1916, the British seaplane carrier Vindex, escorted by the cruisers and destroyers of the Harwich Force, launched an air attack against a Zeppelin base believed to be at Hoyer on the coast of Schleswig.

[18] At 21:35 hr on 26 March, S22 struck a mine about 35 nmi (40 mi; 65 km) west of the Borkum Riff Lightship, with the explosion blowing off the bow of the torpedo boat, which sank quickly, killing 76 of S22's crew of 93.