 U @-@ 68 departed the Ems on 16 March 1916 to begin her first war patrol . Headed to her assigned operating area off Britain 's west coast , Güntzel and U @-@ 68 came across Farnborough , a British Q @-@ ship — in appearance unarmed — under the command of Gordon Campbell . At approximately 07 : 00 , U @-@ 68 fired a torpedo at Farnborough and narrowly missed the ship 's bow . Farnborough continued the deception and continued on at her same speed and course . At 07 : 20 , U @-@ 68 surfaced about 1 @,@ 000 yards ( 910 m ) astern of Farnborough , moved to the ship 's port quarter , and fired a shot across the Q @-@ ship 's bow . 
