Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-178

Type IXD2 submarine

Displacement
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft)
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Complement
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-17814 February 1942 — 25 August 1944923 days of the war
Type IXD2 submarine Particulars
Name
U-178
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
28 May 1940
Laid down
24 December 1940
Launched
25 October 1941
Commissioned
14 February 1942
Fate
Scuttled, 25 August 1944 (1944)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,771 long tons (1,799 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft) OA
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Draught
5.35 m (17.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Range
12,750 nmi (23,613 km)
Complement
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-178 was a Type IXD2 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 24 December 1940. She entered service on 14 February 1942, having been launched on 25 October 1941.

Her class ran to 33 ships. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,585 long tons surfaced and 1,771 long tons submerged. She measured 87.6 m (287 ft) long with a beam of 7.5 m (25 ft). Her designed speed was 20.8 knots, and she carried a complement of 55.

Her main battery was one 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 923 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 25 August 1944. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 9000 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
  • 24 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm L/45 deck gun with 150 rounds
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

8 more in the class

Sources