"Schiff 50" conducted a number of minelaying operations in the Aegean, including off the Dardanelles, off Piraeus, and in the Bay of Salonika, generally operating in company with "Bulgaria". She also participated in minelaying off the west coast of Greece alongside the Italian minelayers and . After the surrender of Italy in September 1943, she was used to carry troops to capture the Greek island of Kos from a combined British and Italian force on 2–3 October in Operation Eisbär, and then complete another minelaying mission in the Aegean. "Schiff 50" was attacked by four British Royal Air Force Bristol Beaufighters off the island of Syros in the Cyclades on 26 September, but incurred only slight damage from their guns. On 8 October she was unsuccessfully attacked by the British submarine although her companion, "Bulgaria", was sunk. "Schiff 50"s most successful operation was a minefield laid just east of the islands of Pserimos and Kalymnos in the Dodecanese to protect German troops during the capture of the Greek island of Leros from another combined British and Italian force. First the British submarine sank in this minefield on 15 October. Then the British destroyer and the , carrying supplies and reinforcements for the British forces on Leros, ran into this minefield on the evening of 22 October. "Adrias" had her bow blown off and "Hurworth" sank after having been blown in half. Despite severe damage, "Adrias" was eventually able to make it back to Alexandria in Egypt. Two nights later the destroyer encountered the same minefield while carrying reinforcements to Leros. She struck a mine, broke in two, and sank in three minutes.