U-1206

Type

VIIC

Ordered

2 Apr 1942

Laid down

12 Jun 1943

F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1576)

Launched

30 Dec 1943

Commissioned

16 Mar 1944

Oblt. Günther Fritze

Commanders

16 Mar 1944	-	Jul, 1944		Oblt. Günther Fritze
Jul, 1944	-	14 Apr 1945		Kptlt. Karl-Adolf Schlitt

Career
1 patrol

16 Mar 1944	-	31 Jan 1945	8. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1945	-	14 Apr 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Scuttled on 14 April 1945 in the North Sea off Peterhead, Scotland, in position 57.24N, 01.37W, after a diving accident. 4 dead and 46 survivors.

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

General notes on this boat

Update
In the mid 70's, while survey work was being undertaken for the BP Forties Field oil pipeline to Cruden Bay, the remains of U-1206 were found in approx. 70m depth at 57.24N, 01.36W. This location was later confirmed with GPS as N57d24.160' W001d36.930.

14 Apr 1945.

Sunk by a toilet?
Many sources state that U-120 was "sunk by a toilet" (probably a very bad way to go! :). However, the story should rightly be attributed to U-1206, one of the late model boats fitted with a new high-pressure toilet allowing the toilet to be used at greater depths than before (though in reality the culprit was not actually the toilet itself).

On 14 April 1945, the boat was quietly cruising at a depth of 200ft only 8-10 miles off Peterhead, Scotland, when the commander, Kptlt. Schlitt, decided to use the toilet without consulting a rating trained in its operation (the procedure was complicated). Something went wrong, and when the specialist arrived he misunderstood the situation and opened the wrong valve, which resulted in large quantities of seawater entering the boat. The water reached the batteries directly under the toilet, causing the production of chlorine gas, and the boat was forced to surface immediately; unfortunately right underneath an enemy aircraft. The crew managed to clear the gas by blowing clean air into the boat, but were at the same time bombed by the aircraft, causing extensive damage which left U-1206 unable to dive. Considering the hopeless situation, Schlitt had no choice but to destroy the secret material and order Abandon Ship to save his crew. (Brennecke, J. (2001). Jäger und Gejagte)

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in April 1945 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1206 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.