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

Career

3 patrols

14 Feb, 1942 - 31 Aug, 1942  4. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1942 - 31 Oct, 1942  10. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov, 1942 - 1 Aug, 1944  12. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

13 ships sunk for a total of 87.030 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 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

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

24 May, 1943
At 06.05 hours, the boat was attacked by a Dutch Catalina aircraft (RAF Sqdn 321 / Z) with 3 bombs while tracking a small convoy near Capetown, South Africa. No damages, but the convoy escaped. (Sources: Rohwer / Blair, vol 2, page 301)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

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.