Submarine Mystery - Answer: Perhaps

Last week's Mystery Question was: Has blowing sanitaries overboard ever resulted in loss of a submarine?


Answer: Perhaps, but since submarines are always silent and strange, we may never know with certainty...

The method for blowing sanitaries overboard is difficult to operate, and the German Type VIIC boat U-1206 was lost with casualties because of a mistake with the toilet.

source


Another version (source) ...


U-1206 was commissioned on 16 March 1944. Under the command of Kptlt. Karl-Adolf Schlitt during July 1944, she was assigned to patrol the East Coast of Scotland and the Moray Firth.
During attempted mechanical repairs, the bow section began flooding. Ballast tanks were blown and loaded torpedoes launched for added buoyancy. The submarine surfaced, but her diesel engines failed. Because the boat could not be saved, secret equipment was destroyed and she was scuttled as her crew abandoned shipi in rafts. The fourth raft was washed ashore south of Boddam where three crew were drowned.





Still another version (source) ... Sunk by a toilet?

In many sources it is stated the U-120 was 'sunk by a toilet' (probably a very bad way to go! :). However this story should be attributed, with changes, to the U-1206 which was one of the late war boats fitted with the new deep water high-pressure toilets (enabling the boat to use its toilet at greater depth than before)...

[U-1206] FATE: Sank on 14 April, 1945 in the North Sea near Peterhead, Scotland, in position 57.21N, 01.39W, in a diving accident. 4 dead and 46 survivors. ... the boat was safely cruising at 200 feet when the commander, Schlitt, decided to use the toilet without the help of a trained specialist (the system was complicated). Something went wrong and when the specialist arrived he misunderstood something and opened the wrong valve with the end results that large amount of seawater got into the boat. The seawater reached the batteries directly under the toilet causing chlorine gas to form and the boat had to be surfaced immediately right under the enemy. When the boat reached the surface they managed to blow clean air into the boat but at the same time an aircraft bombed the boat causing extensive damages leaving the boat unable to dive. Seeing the hopeless situation Schlitt had no choice but to destroy his secret material and abandon ship to safe his crew. (Brennecke, J. (2001). Jager and Gejagte)

Which version contains not only the most precise details, but also suggests an impetus for coverup?
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Because some of you may be disappointed over the unresolved nature of the affirmative answer, here is the latest consolation to comfort us: THE TRUTH FROM IRAQ.