Ordered - 25 Sep 1939
Laid down - 23 Mar 1940 Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 700)
Launched - 1 Mar 1941
Commissioned - 8 Jul 1941 Kptlt. Hans-Ludwig Witt (Knights Cross)
Commanders
8 Jul 1941 - 30 Nov 1941 KptLt. Hans-Ludwig Witt (Knights Cross)
1 Dec 1941 - 31 Dec 1941 Kptlt. Hans-Ludwig Witt
1 Jan 1942 - 27 Sep 1943 KptLt. Albrecht Achilles ( Knights Cross)
Career
6 patrols
8 Jul 1941 - 31 Dec 1941 4. Flotille (training)
1 Jan 1942 - 27 Sep 1943 2. Flotille (active service)
Successes 12 ships sunk, total tonnage 60,107 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,130
5 ships damaged, total tonnage 35,672 GRT
1 warship damaged, total tonnage 5,450 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 3,305 GRT
Fate - Sunk on 27 September 1943 in the South Atlantic east of Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, in position 12.30S, 35.35W, by depth charges from a US Mariner aircraft (VP-74 USN/P-2). 53 dead (all hands lost).
In the south Atlantic U-161 sank 6 ships with a total of 48,870 DWT
ST.USK - BENALDER - TJILEBOET - RIPLEY - WEST HUMHAW - ITAPAGÉ
ST. USK
BENALDER
RIPLEY
TJILEBOET
WEST HUMHAW
ITAPAGE