From 1 August 1914, to 15 March 1916, U-19 was commanded by Constantin Kolbe. During this period she had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first U-boat casualty of World War I when she was rammed by HMS Badger on 29 October 1914. Her hull was badly damaged, but she survived and was repaired. Kolbe was relieved by Raimund Weisbach, who had previously served as torpedo officer on and had (on Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger's orders) launched the torpedo that sank . During his brief command, Weisbach carried out an unusual mission: he delivered the revolutionary Roger Casement and two other agents to Banna Strand in Ireland in hopes that they would foment an uprising that would distract the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from World War I.