German submarine U-718

German submarine U-718 was a short-lived Type VIIC U-boat built by the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. U-718 was the victim of a tragic accident during training exercises five months after completion, and thus never saw active service in the Kriegsmarine. Built at Hamburg during 1942 and 1943 and taking a year to complete, U-718 was a Type VIIC submarine and was intended for service in the Battle of the Atlantic.

On the 18 November 1943, U-718 was conducting training as part of a "wolfpack" near Bornholm in the Baltic Sea under Oblt. Helmut Wieduwilt, when she was accidentally rammed by GS U-476. The submarines had been maneuvering to attack the same target in the dark, and U-476 ran aboard U-718 whilst the submarines were running on the surface. U-718's hatch was closed to prevent water entering the hull, and thus only the seven personnel in the conning tower, including Kptlt. Wieduwilt, survived. The boat's hull was ruptured by the force of the impact, causing the submarine to fill and sink very rapidly, taking 43 sailors to the bottom with her. The survivors were rescued from the water by other German naval units and transferred to other boats.