German submarine U-518

U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-518
Ordered14 February 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number314
Laid down12 June 1941
Launched11 February 1942
Commissioned25 April 1942
FateSunk on 22 April 1945[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 44 690
Commanders:
  • F.Kapt. Hans-Günther Brachmann
  • 25 April – 18 August 1942
  • Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann
  • 19 August 1942 – 13 January 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Werner Offermann
  • 13 January 1944 – 22 April 1945
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 26 September – 15 December 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 11 January – 27 April 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 24 June – 3 July 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 18 August – 1 December 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 23 January – 7 May 1944
  • b. 4 – 10 July 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 15 July – 24 October 1944
  • b. 25 – 28 October 1944
  • c. 5 – 10 March 1945
  • 7th patrol: 12 March – 22 April 1945
Victories:
  • 9 merchant ships sunk
    (55,747 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (22,616 GRT)

German submarine U-518 was a Type IXC U-boat of the Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw considerable success from her launch on 11 February 1942 until she was sunk on 22 April 1945. The U-boat was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as yard number 314 on 12 June 1941, and commissioned on 25 April 1942 with Fregattenkapitän Hans-Günther Brachmann in command. He was replaced on 19 August 1942 by Kapitänleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann.[4] She sank nine ships and damaged three more in seven active patrols. U-518 had a crew of 56, and was by then commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Werner Offermann from 13 January 1944.

  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 252.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-518". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-518". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-518". uboat.net. Retrieved 6 June 2024.