Two days later, "U-181" was heavily damaged by the British destroyer "Inconstant" in an engagement that lasted nine hours before Lüth was able to escape. After repairing his vessel, Lüth led it to Lourenco Marques and for the next fortnight "U-181" undertook a series of surface attacks which resulted in eight ships being sunk, most primarily with "U-181"s deck gun. In January 1943, after sinking 12 ships for , "U-181" returned to Bordeaux in France, in January 1943. On 31 January 1943, Lüth and other "Kriegsmarine" officers traveled to the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters at Rastenburg, present-day Kętrzyn in Poland, for the Oak Leaves presentation. Following the presentation, Hitler met with Dönitz and "Vizeadmiral" Theodor Krancke in private. During this meeting, Hitler appointed Dönitz as "Oberbefehlshaber der Marine" (Commander-in-Chief) of the "Kriegsmarine" following Raeder's resignation on 30 January 1943. On the return flight to Berlin, Dönitz informed Lüth and the other officers present of this change in command.