The V 180 was intended to accelerate the change of traction on the Deutsche Reichsbahn and therefore replace various steam locomotive classes in use on the main lines.

In 1953 the Deutsche Reichsbahn commissioned the Vereinigung Volkseigener Betriebe des Lokomotiv- und Waggonbaus (Association of Nationally Owned Enterprises of Locomotive and Wagon Building, LOWA) with the development of modern diesel rolling stock.

After the first drafts has been submitted in 1956, a concept was presented in 1957 that provided for the heavy passenger and freight train service on the mainlines to be powered by locomotives with engines of 1,800 to 2,000 PS (1,320 to 1,470 kW; 1,780 to 1,970 hp).

These V12-cylinder short-stroke four-stroke diesel engines had a displacement of approximately 74.8 L (4,560 cu in) and a nominal output of 900 PS (662 kW; 888 hp).

A version with the C′C′ wheel arrangement was developed for use on branch lines with a permissible axle load of 16 tonnes.

From 1966, after extensive testing, a total of 205 locomotives with 1,000 PS (735 kW; 986 hp) engines followed from V 180 203, the last of which were delivered under the new series designation 118.

From 1981 to 1989, 179 locomotives of the 118.2–4 series were equipped with 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,180 hp) engines during scheduled investigations; they also received a fleet number increased by 400.

Under the high driver's cabs were placed the three-stage 120 km/h (75 mph) hydraulic transmission from the Austrian subsidiary of Voith in St. Pölten.

When the engine was replaced at a later date, all machines were given the even more powerful version 12 KVD 18/21 AL-4 with 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,180 hp) output.

As an experiment, highly charged engines of the type 12 KVD 18/21 AL-5, each with 1,500 PS (1,100 kW; 1,480 hp) drive power, were installed in the 1980s.

Since the engines in the test phase were unreliable and the classes 132 and 119 were already equipped with correspondingly powerful locomotives, a series conversion was decided against.

In 1965 the prototype of a six-axle locomotive with two 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,180 hp) engines was presented at the Leipzig spring fair.

The superstructure corresponded to the V 180, but the driver's cabs were made of glass fibre reinforced polyester resin (GRP) and the paint was silver grey.

The locomotives were in operation in April 1990 between Berlin-Wannsee and Potsdam Hbf in cross-border S-Bahn advance traffic.

As recently as 2005, some locomotives were used by Mitteldeutsche Eisenbahn (MEG, an 80% subsidiary of DB Cargo Deutschland AG) on the routes around Saalfeld/Saale and Bad Lobenstein as difficulties repeatedly appeared with other series.