German submarine U-518

German submarine U-518 was a Type IXC U-boat of the German Navy during World War II. She saw considerable success from her launch in 11 February 1942 until she was sunk on 22 April 1945. The U-boat was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as 'werk' 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.

She sank nine ships and damaged three more in ten active patrols. U-518 had a crew of 56, and was by then commanded by Oberleutnant Hans-Werner Offermann from 13 January 1944.

First patrol
She left Kiel on 26 September 1942, by-passed the British Isles via the gap between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands and crossed the Atlantic. She entered Conception Bay, Newfoundland and near Bell Island sank the British PLM 27 and the Canadian Rose Castle on 2 November. Moving out into the Atlantic proper, she attacked other ships, such as the British Empire Sailor on the 21st and the American Caddo on the 23rd. With these and other successes behind her, she moved to her new home base, Lorient in occupied France, arriving on 15 December 1942.

Second patrol
Leaving Lorient on 11 January 1943, she sailed to the eastern Brazilian coast and on 14 February 1943 came under attack from unidentified Allied aircraft; she sustained minimal damage Between 18 February and 25 March, she sank another four ships.On the return journey, she passed through the Cape Verde Islands, west of the Canaries and east of the Azores, arriving back at Lorient on 27 April 1943 after a patrol lasting 107 days.

Third patrol
Her third sortie was marred by a depth charge and strafing attack on 27 June 1943 by a Sunderland flying boat of 201 Squadron, RAF. The damage incurred was serious enough to warrant her return which was hampered by another attack by a Sunderland, this time from 10 Squadron, RAAF on 30 June in the Bay of Biscay. This incident caused no further damage, but the aircraft's rear gunner was mortally wounded.The boat docked in Bordeaux on 3 July.

Fourth patrol
She spent fifteen weeks on patrol which included a presence in the Gulf of Mexico, between 18 August and 1 December 1943, with no results.

Fifth patrol
Another long patrol saw the boat in the Caribbean where she torpedoed the Panamanian Valera. The ship broke in two before sinking. The submarine had departed Lorient on 23 January 1944 and returned there on 10 July.

Sixth patrol
This was a non-active Patrol, traveling from port to port, lasted from 4–10 July 1944, with no results

Seventh patrol
By now, the Allies were besieging the Atlantic ports on the landward side; the boat departed Lorient for the last time on 15 July 1944. Allied escort ships attacked a submarine in mid-ocean, probably U-518, on 9 August. She next turned up, on the eastern US coast, where she damaged the American George Ade. She then withdrew to Kristiansand in Norway, arriving on 24 October 1944.

Eighth and ninth patrols
Both of these voyages from 25–28 October 1944 and 5–10 March 1945 were between ports and produced no results.

Tenth and final patrol
Her last foray began when she departed Kristiansand on 12 March 1945. She was sunk northwest of the Azores on 24 April by depth charges from USS Carter and Scott. There were no survivors.