She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 October 1917 as SM UB-83.

[Note 1] UB-83 was sunk on 10 September 1918 by HMS Ophelia off Orkney at 58°28′N 1°50′W / 58.467°N 1.833°W / 58.467; -1.833 (Ophelia), all 35 of the crew members died in the event.

Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-83 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun.

UB-83 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 8,180 nautical miles (15,150 km; 9,410 mi).

Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) when surfaced and 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when submerged.