Wilhelm Meentzen (19 March 1915 – 8 May 2001) was a German admiral in the Bundeswehr. He commanded the destroyer Zerstörer 3 (D172), formerly USS Wadsworth (DD-516), from October 1959 until January 1961. During World War II, Meentzen commanded Kreigsmarine torpedo boats and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards and decorations Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (6 June 1939) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (23 December 1939) & 1st Class (21 November 1940) German Cross in Gold on 5 May 1944 as Kapitänleutnant on Torpedoboot T-24/4. Torpedoboots-Flottille Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 October 1944 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of Torpedoboot T-24 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (25 May 1973) References 1915 births 2001 deaths People from Emden People from the Province of Hanover Reichsmarine personnel Kriegsmarine personnel of World War II Bundesmarine admirals German prisoners of war in World War II held by France German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Vice admirals of the German Navy Military personnel from Lower Saxony