German submarine U-178 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Ordered on 28 May 1940, the U-boat was laid down on 24 December 1940 at the AG Weser yard in Bremen as 'werk' 1018. She was launched on 25 October 1941 and commissioned on 14 February 1942, under the command of Fregattenkapitän Hans Ibekken.