List of all U-boats
U-418
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 20 Jan 1941 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 21 Oct 1941 | Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 119) | ||||||||
| Launched | 11 Jul 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 21 Oct 1942 | Oblt. Gerhard Lange | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 1 patrol |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 1 June, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 47.05N, 08.55W, by rockets from a British Beaufighter aircraft (Sqdn. 236/B). 48 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-418 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Without name (5 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
Isar (10 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
Donau 1 (15 May 1943 - 23 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat and other events
30 May 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Catalina FP101 (RAF Sqdn 210/G, pilot F/L David William Eadie)
09.55 hrs, outside the Bay of Biscay: The Catalina attacked a U-boat, probably the inbound U-418, which was lost shortly afterwards without reporting an attack. AA fire hit the bow of the aircraft during the attack run, killing the nose gunner and wounding two other crewmen, but the pilot carried on and dropped depth charges. The aircraft made it to base at Pembroke Dock, but the hull was holed, and it sank on landing. Later salvaged.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)1 recorded attack 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-418 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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