List of all U-boats

U-978

Type

VIIC

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

24 Jul 1942

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 178)

Launched

1 Apr 1943

Commissioned

12 May 1943

Oblt. Günther Pulst (Knights Cross)

Commanders

12 May 1943

9 May 1945

Kptlt. Günther Pulst (Knights Cross)

Career
2 patrols

12 May 1943	-	31 Jul 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1944	-	4 Sep 1944	3. Flottille (active service)
5 Sep 1944	-	8 May 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 7,176 GRT

Fate

Surrendered on 9 May 1945 in the Lofjord near Trondheim, Norway (Waller & Niestlé, 2010).

Transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 29 May 1945.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 11 Dec, 1945 in position 56.10N, 10.05W.

Final location

See the 1 ships hit by U-978 - View the 2 war patrols

General notes on this boat

9 Oct 1944. U-978 began the longest Schnorchel patrol of the war, 68 days from Bergen, Norway on 9 Oct. 1944, returning there on 16 Dec.

This surpassed the more famous 66-day submerged run U-977 undertook while en route to Argentina to surrender there in August 1945.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in October 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-978 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.