"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 , 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 astern of "Farnborough", moved to the ship's port quarter, and fired a shot across the Q-ship's bow.