Most embarrassing reason for U-boat losses?

Knotical · 08-02-05, 09:17 PM

Reading the new Osprey Pub. book "WOLFPACK", by Gordon Williamson, I came across this on page 166. Talking about the 1 available "head", and how difficult and disgusting it was to use:
"At least one U-boat (U-1206) was lost because of incorrect handling of the toilet flushing apparatus. In this incident the U-boat had to surface immediately to ease water pressure and was attacked and fatally damaged by Allied aircraft on reaching the surface." It then goes on to say the entire crew survived because the boat was close to shore.

U-boat.net says this http://www.uboat.net/boats/u1206.htm

I am also suprised at the number of U-boats (esp. type IX's) operating in remote coastal waters destroyed by very small patrol craft armed only with a few depth charges and very small guns (which the U-boat could have easily outgunned on the surface).

A good example of this is U-166; http://www.pastfoundation.org/U166/index.htm
This website is one of the best I have seen, with excellent photos of a very well preserved IXB, 3d models, original crew/boat photos, etc.

08-02-05, 09:17 PM	#1
Knotical Mate Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 51 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Most embarrassing reason for U-boat losses? Reading the new Osprey Pub. book "WOLFPACK", by Gordon Williamson, I came across this on page 166. Talking about the 1 available "head", and how difficult and disgusting it was to use: "At least one U-boat (U-1206) was lost because of incorrect handling of the toilet flushing apparatus. In this incident the U-boat had to surface immediately to ease water pressure and was attacked and fatally damaged by Allied aircraft on reaching the surface." It then goes on to say the entire crew survived because the boat was close to shore. U-boat.net says this http://www.uboat.net/boats/u1206.htm I am also suprised at the number of U-boats (esp. type IX's) operating in remote coastal waters destroyed by very small patrol craft armed only with a few depth charges and very small guns (which the U-boat could have easily outgunned on the surface). A good example of this is U-166; http://www.pastfoundation.org/U166/index.htm This website is one of the best I have seen, with excellent photos of a very well preserved IXB, 3d models, original crew/boat photos, etc.