When I read Dr. Beynon’s “Ace of Aces” (Jan. 2005, pp. 101-118) I was surprised by his statements that Rolf Mutzelburg, Albert “ADf’ Schnee, Eric Topp, and Teddy Surhen ” .. .led the force in ships sunk and total tonnage.” And that Teddy Suhren was Doenitz’s “ACE among aces” (p. I 03 ). Maybe so. But the record differs.
As for ships sunk and tonnage totals, only Topp is listed under the 34 U-boat commanders who sank over I 00,000 tons where he is ranked third with a total of 35 ships sunk for 197 ,460 tons.
Schnee, Suhren and Mutzenburg are listed under the 49 who sank over 50,000 tons where Schnee ranked third or 37 overall with a total of 23 ships sunk for 96, 547 tons; Suhren ranked fourth or 38 overall with 18 for 95,544 tons; and Mutzenburg ranked 13 or 47 overall with 19 for 81,987 tons. Hardly the lead-ers in ships sunk and total tonnage.
As for the ACE of aces among submarine commanders of all navies during WW II, it was Otto Kretschmer with 46 ships sunk for 272,958 tons.
And the greatest ACE of all was Lother von Arnauld de la Periere who sank 194 ships for 450,000 tons in WWI.
This data and much more can be found on the internet at: http://uboat.net/. Go to: The Men/List of all U-boat commanders/Most successful/Top U -boat Commanders/Commanders with Over 100,000 Tons sunk each and Commanders with Over 50,000 tons sunk each.
R.A. Bowling
CAPT, USN(Ret)
