List of all U-boats

U-178

Type

IXD2

 
Ordered28 May 1940
Laid down24 Dec 1940 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1018)
Launched25 Oct 1941
Commissioned14 Feb 1942Fregkpt. 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)
Successes13 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.

U-boat Emblems

We have 4 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Horrido

White Swan

Prawn

Nur noch 60 Tage?!

Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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