Heinrich Paul Christian Richard Eckermann (15 July 1862, near Ratzeburg - 13 January 1916, Kiel) was an officer of the German Imperial Navy, rising to Vizeadmiral (vice admiral) in the First World War.

During this time he was temporarily in command of the torpedo boat V 6, travelling between Berlin and Potsdam on the rivers Elbe, Havel and Spree and remaining on standby to transport the Kaiser.

In April 1894 Eckermann was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and travelled to South America on the steamer München to join SMS Arcona as its navigation officer.

From March 1902 to June 1903 he commanded the gunboat SMS Panther - his first trip with this ship was up the Rhine to Düsseldorf for the World Exhibition there.

The battle started when the fort's gunners opened fire on Panther when she was crossing the sandy bar of Maracaibo lagoon.

Inside the fort, two of the gunners managed to score several hits at Panther with their 80-millimeter Krupp gun, causing considerable damage to the ship.

The president Cipriano Castro claimed this as a victory, and in response the German commander sent the protected cruiser Vineta with heavier weapons to destroy the fort.