German submarine U-1206 was a Type VIICU-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 12 June 1943 at F. Schichau GmbH in Danzig and went into service on 16 March 1944. The submarine was scuttled on 14 April 1945 after being attacked by British forces after she was forced to the surface by problems arising from a malfunctioning plumbing system.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1206 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder superchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-1206 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service historyEdit
After being commissioned, under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günther Fritze, the submarine took part in training exercises with the 8th U-boat Flotilla until July 1944 when it was assigned to the 11th U-boat Flotilla. Command was handed over to 27 year old Kapitänleutnant Karl-Adolf Schlitt.[4] The boat was then fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus before being released for patrol duties.
The boat's emblem was a white stork on a black shield with green beak and legs.[5]
PatrolsEdit
On 28 March 1945 the submarine departed from Kiel for its first training patrol in the North Sea, returning on 30 March. The submarine departed from Horten Naval Base for a one-day patrol on 2 April, and its first active patrol began on 6 April when it departed from Kristiansand.
FateEdit
U-1206 was one of the late-war boats fitted with new deepwater high-pressure toilets which allowed them to be used while running at depth. Flushing these facilities was an extremely complicated procedure and special technicians were trained to operate them. Incorrectly opening valves in the wrong sequence could result in waste or seawater flowing back into the hull.[6]
On 14 April 1945, 24 days before the end of World War II in Europe, while U-1206 was cruising at a depth of 200 feet (61 m), eight nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) off Peterhead, Scotland, misuse of the new toilet caused large amounts of seawater to flood the boat.[6] According to the Commander's official report, while in the engine room helping to repair one of the diesel engines, he was informed that a malfunction involving the toilet caused a leak in the forward section. The leak flooded the submarine's batteries (located beneath the head) causing them to generate chlorine gas, leaving him with no alternative but to surface.[6] Once surfaced, U-1206 was discovered and bombed by British patrols, forcing Schlitt to scuttle the submarine. One man had died of illness a day before the mishap,[7] three men drowned in the heavy seas after abandoning the vessel[8] and 46 were captured.[9]
During survey work for the BPForties Field oil pipeline to Cruden Bay in the mid 1970s, the remains of U-1206 were found at 57°21′N01°39′W / 57.350°N 1.650°W / 57.350; -1.650 in approximately 70 m (230 ft) underwater. The site survey performed by RCAHMS suggests that the leak that forced U-1206 to surface may have occurred after running into a pre-existing wreck located at the same site.[10]
A large number of sources incorrectly attribute this incident to U-120.[Note 1]
^Sources asserting incorrectly that U-120 sank because of a malfunctioning toilet include:
Justin Heimberg; David Gomberg (2009). Would You Rather...?'s Read It and Wipe: Condensed Comedy for the Can. Seven Footer Press. p. 69. ISBN978-1-934734-10-0.
David Hatcher Childress (2001). A Hitchhiker's Guide to Armageddon. Adventures Unlimited Press. p. 154. ISBN978-0-932813-84-8.
James F. Dunnigan; Albert A. Nofi (1994). Dirty little secrets of World War II: military information no one told you about the greatest, most terrible war in history. W. Morrow. p. 273. ISBN978-0-688-12235-5.
Mark Mirabello (2009). Handbook for Rebels and Outlaws. Mark Mirabello. p. 185. ISBN978-1-906958-00-8.
Sources reporting U-1206 sank because of a malfunctioning toilet include:
^Simkins, Jon D. (27 November 2019). "This Nazi sub was sunk when its captain took a dump". militarytimes.com. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1206 emblem". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
^ abcCarter, Elliot (17 September 2015). "The High-Tech Toilet That Sank a Submarine". War is Boring. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Niestle, Axel (1998). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Greenhill. ISBN1-85367-352-8.
External linksEdit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-1206". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
german, submarine, 1206, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, laid, down, june, 1943, schichau, gmbh, danzig, went, into, service, march, 1944, submarine, scuttled, april, 1945, after, being, attacked, british, forces, after, forced, s. German submarine U 1206 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II She was laid down on 12 June 1943 at F Schichau GmbH in Danzig and went into service on 16 March 1944 The submarine was scuttled on 14 April 1945 after being attacked by British forces after she was forced to the surface by problems arising from a malfunctioning plumbing system HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 1206Ordered2 April 1942BuilderSchichau Werke DanzigYard number1576Laid down12 June 1943Launched30 December 1943Commissioned16 March 1944FateScuttled due to accident on 14 April 1945 in the North Sea near Peterhead Scotland at position 57 21 N 01 39 W 57 350 N 1 650 W 57 350 1 650 4 dead and 46 survivors General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 23 m 220 ft 7 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 500 nmi 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 80 nmi 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 AA gun 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService recordPart of 8th U boat Flotilla 16 March 1944 31 January 1945 11th U boat Flotilla 1 February 14 April 1945Commanders Oblt z S Gunther Fritze 1 16 March July 1944 Kptlt Karl Adolf Schlitt 2 July 1944 14 April 1945Operations 1 patrol 6 14 April 1945Victories None Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Patrols 2 2 Fate 3 See also 4 Notes 4 1 Footnotes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 1206 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 3 She had a total length of 67 10 m 220 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in a beam of 6 20 m 20 ft 4 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 74 m 15 ft 7 in The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four stroke six cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2 800 to 3 200 metric horsepower 2 060 to 2 350 kW 2 760 to 3 160 shp for use while surfaced two AEG GU 460 8 27 double acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower 550 kW 740 shp for use while submerged She had two shafts and two 1 23 m 4 ft propellers The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres 750 ft 3 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph 3 When submerged the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 500 nautical miles 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 1206 was fitted with five 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and one at the stern fourteen torpedoes one 8 8 cm 3 46 in SK C 35 naval gun 220 rounds one 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 3 Service history EditAfter being commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gunther Fritze the submarine took part in training exercises with the 8th U boat Flotilla until July 1944 when it was assigned to the 11th U boat Flotilla Command was handed over to 27 year old Kapitanleutnant Karl Adolf Schlitt 4 The boat was then fitted with a Schnorchel underwater breathing apparatus before being released for patrol duties The boat s emblem was a white stork on a black shield with green beak and legs 5 Patrols Edit On 28 March 1945 the submarine departed from Kiel for its first training patrol in the North Sea returning on 30 March The submarine departed from Horten Naval Base for a one day patrol on 2 April and its first active patrol began on 6 April when it departed from Kristiansand Fate Edit U 1206 was one of the late war boats fitted with new deepwater high pressure toilets which allowed them to be used while running at depth Flushing these facilities was an extremely complicated procedure and special technicians were trained to operate them Incorrectly opening valves in the wrong sequence could result in waste or seawater flowing back into the hull 6 On 14 April 1945 24 days before the end of World War II in Europe while U 1206 was cruising at a depth of 200 feet 61 m eight nautical miles 15 km 9 2 mi off Peterhead Scotland misuse of the new toilet caused large amounts of seawater to flood the boat 6 According to the Commander s official report while in the engine room helping to repair one of the diesel engines he was informed that a malfunction involving the toilet caused a leak in the forward section The leak flooded the submarine s batteries located beneath the head causing them to generate chlorine gas leaving him with no alternative but to surface 6 Once surfaced U 1206 was discovered and bombed by British patrols forcing Schlitt to scuttle the submarine One man had died of illness a day before the mishap 7 three men drowned in the heavy seas after abandoning the vessel 8 and 46 were captured 9 During survey work for the BP Forties Field oil pipeline to Cruden Bay in the mid 1970s the remains of U 1206 were found at 57 21 N 01 39 W 57 350 N 1 650 W 57 350 1 650 in approximately 70 m 230 ft underwater The site survey performed by RCAHMS suggests that the leak that forced U 1206 to surface may have occurred after running into a pre existing wreck located at the same site 10 A large number of sources incorrectly attribute this incident to U 120 Note 1 See also EditToilet related injuries and deathsNotes EditFootnotes Edit Sources asserting incorrectly that U 120 sank because of a malfunctioning toilet include Justin Heimberg David Gomberg 2009 Would You Rather s Read It and Wipe Condensed Comedy for the Can Seven Footer Press p 69 ISBN 978 1 934734 10 0 David Hatcher Childress 2001 A Hitchhiker s Guide to Armageddon Adventures Unlimited Press p 154 ISBN 978 0 932813 84 8 James F Dunnigan Albert A Nofi 1994 Dirty little secrets of World War II military information no one told you about the greatest most terrible war in history W Morrow p 273 ISBN 978 0 688 12235 5 Mark Mirabello 2009 Handbook for Rebels and Outlaws Mark Mirabello p 185 ISBN 978 1 906958 00 8 Sources reporting U 1206 sank because of a malfunctioning toilet include Williamson Gordon 2006 Wolf Pack The Story of the U Boat in World War II Osprey p 166 ISBN 978 1 84603 141 0 Williamson Gordon Pavlovic Darko 2001 Grey Wolf U Boat Crewman of World War II Osprey p 26 ISBN 978 1 84176 312 5 Clay Blair 1998 Hitler s U boat War The hunted 1942 1945 Random House p 673 ISBN 978 0 679 45742 8 References Edit Helgason Gudmundur Gunther Fritze German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 March 2015 Helgason Gudmundur Karl Adolf Schlitt German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 March 2015 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Simkins Jon D 27 November 2019 This Nazi sub was sunk when its captain took a dump militarytimes com Sightline Media Group Retrieved 27 November 2019 Helgason Gudmundur U 1206 emblem German U boats of WWII uboat net a b c Carter Elliot 17 September 2015 The High Tech Toilet That Sank a Submarine War is Boring Retrieved 20 September 2015 U boat Archive U boat Archive Showell Jak P Mallman 2006 The U Boat Century German Submarine Warfare 1906 2006 Chatham Publishing p 81 ISBN 978 1 86176 241 2 Historic Environment Scotland U 1206 North Sea 101830 Canmore Bibliography EditBusch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 German U boat commanders of World War II a biographical dictionary Translated by Brooks Geoffrey London Annapolis Md Greenhill Books Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 186 6 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 Der U Boot Krieg in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Niestle Axel 1998 German U Boat Losses During World War II Greenhill ISBN 1 85367 352 8 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 1206 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 9 December 2014 Kriegsmarine and U Boat history List of U 1206 crew members ubootwaffe net Poo Sank This Nazi Sub in Vice Magazine Portals nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 1206 amp oldid 1176077224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
