In her career she sank 38 ships for a total of 86,320 gross register tons (GRT).

Kapitänleutnant Richard Hartmann commanded U-49 throughout her career until she was sunk on 11 September 1917 in action in the Bay of Biscay.

While surfaced, U-49 attacked the merchant ship British Transport, which had sailed Brest, France bound for Archangel in Russia, laden with munitions and other explosives.

[citation needed] After a gun battle lasting five hours, U-49 fired two torpedoes at British Transport.

In February 1918 British Transport's Master, Captain AT Pope, was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order,[3][4][5] three of her officers were awarded the DSC,[6] seven of her crewmen were awarded the DSM and three were mentioned in dispatches.