She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1917 as SM UB-87.

[Note 1] UB-87 was surrendered to France on 20 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany.

Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-87 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun.

UB-87 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.