U-178

Type

IXD2

Ordered

28 May 1940

Laid down

24 Dec 1940

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1018)

Launched

25 Oct 1941

Commissioned

14 Feb 1942

Fregkpt. Hans Ibekken

Commanders

14 Feb 1942	-	21 Feb 1943	Kpt. Hans Ibbeken
22 Feb 1943	-	25 Nov 1943	KrvKpt. Wilhelm Dommes (Knights Cross)
25 Nov 1943	-	25 Aug 1944	Kptlt. Wilhelm Spahr (German Cross in Gold)

Career
3 patrols

14 Feb 1942	-	31 Aug 1942	4. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	10. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1942	-	1 Aug 1944	12. Flottille (active service)

Successes

13 ships sunk, total tonnage 87,030 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,348 GRT

Fate

Scuttled 25 Aug 1944 at Bordeaux, France as she was not seaworthy in time to escape the Allied advance. Broken up in 1947.

See the 14 ships hit by U-178 - View the 3 war patrols

Attacks on this boat and other events

15 Nov 1942
While operating off Durban (Nov 13-15) the boat was attacked by Allied aircraft several times and on one occasion 3 bombs fell close, but without causing damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 78)

24 May 1943
06.05 hrs, off Capetown, South Africa: the boat was attacked by a Dutch Catalina flying boat (RAF Sqn 321/Z) while tracking a small convoy. Three bombs dropped. No damage, but the convoy escaped. (Sources: Rohwer / Blair, vol 2, page 301)

6 Nov 1943
The British submarine HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN) fired five torpedoes at a U-boat leaving Penang. All missed. The location was 05º27N, 100º04E. The target was U-178, which had left Penang bound for Singapore that day. Two torpedo tracks were sighted by the Germans.

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

The British submarine HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN) fired 5 torpedoes at a U-boat leaving Penang. All missed. The location was 05º27'N, 100º04'E. The target was U-178, which had left Penang bound for Singapore that day. Two torpedo tracks were sighted by the Germans.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-178 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.