Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Albrecht Achilles began his naval career with the Reichsmarine on 8 April 1934 as a member "Crew 34" (the incoming class of 1934). He transferred to the U-boat service in April 1940.
Foreign one year, he served as a commander trainee as first and second watch officer on board various U-boats, including three patrols on U-66 under the command of Robert-Richard Zapp, before taking over command of U-161 from Kapitänleutnant Hans Witt.
On his third war patrol (28 April – 7 August 1942), Achilles sank three ships in the Caribbean Sea totaling 14,201 GRT and further torpedoes one ship of 3,305 GRT in the port of Santa Lucia. Albrecht Achilles and his entire crew were killed in action when U-161 was sunk northeast of Bahia on 27 September 1943 by depth charges from a United States. Navy Martin PBM Mariner (VP-74/P-2).
Ships attacked As commander of U-161, Achilles is credited with the sinking of 12 merchant ships totalling 60,107 gross register tons (GRT), damaging another ship of 3,305 GRT that it had to be considered a total loss and damaging five further ships of 35,672 GRT. He also sank the United States Lighthouse Service ship Acacia of 1,130 metric tons (1,110 long tons. 1,250 short tons) and damaged the British light cruiser HMS Phoebe (43) 5,450 t (5,360 long tons.
6,010 short tons). Wehrmachtbericht reference The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following: Promotions Bibliography.