She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 June 1917 as SM UB-61.

[Note 1] The submarine conducted three patrols and sank two ships during the war for a total loss of 12,920 gross register tons (GRT).

UB-61 was struck by a mine on 29 November 1917 at 53°20′N 4°56′E / 53.333°N 4.933°E / 53.333; 4.933 and sunk with all hands lost.

Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-61 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun.

UB-61 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 8,420 nautical miles (15,590 km; 9,690 mi).