She was commissioned into the Flanders Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 30 July 1917 as SM UB-57.

[Note 1] She operated as part of the Flanders Flotilla based in Zeebrugge.

UB-57 was sunk at 23:00 on 14 August 1918 at 51°56′N 02°02′E / 51.933°N 2.033°E / 51.933; 2.033 after striking a mine, 34 crew members lost their lives in the event.

Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-57 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun.

UB-57 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,020 nautical miles (16,710 km; 10,380 mi).