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U-1206
 Peterhead, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Max Depth: Over 150ft/46m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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U-1206 is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Peterhead, Scotland, United Kingdom. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m.
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)
