German submarine U-32 (1937)

Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsTemplate:Infobox service record

German submarine U-32 was a Type VIIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 15 March 1936 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen as yard number 913. She was launched on 25 February 1937 and commissioned on 15 April with Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott in command. On 15 August 1937, Lott was relieved by Korvettenkapitän Paul Büchel, and on 12 February 1940, Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch took over. He was in charge of the boat until her loss.<ref name="uboatnet" />

Design

As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-32 had a displacement of Template:Convert when at the surface and Template:Convert while submerged.Template:Sfn She had a total length of Template:Convert, a pressure hull length of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Convert, a height of Template:Convert, and a draught of Template:Convert. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of Template:Convert for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of Template:Convert for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two Template:Convert propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Template:Convert and a maximum submerged speed of Template:Convert.Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for Template:Convert at Template:Convert; when surfaced, she could travel Template:Convert at Template:Convert. U-32 was fitted with five Template:Convert torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one [[8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun|Template:Convert SK C/35 naval gun]], 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.Template:Sfn

Service history

U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships, for a total of Template:GRT and damaging five more, totalling Template:GRT and 8,000 tons. On 28 October 1940 U-32, under the command of Hans Jenisch, sank the 42,348 GRT liner Template:RMS, which had previously been damaged by two 250 kg (550 lb) bombs from a German Focke-Wulf C 200 Condor long-range bomber, commanded by Oberleutnant Bernhard Jope. Empress was the largest ship sunk by a U-boat.<ref name="uboatnet" />

Fate

U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland, in position Template:Coord, by depth charges from the British destroyers Template:HMS and Template:HMS on 30 October 1940. Nine crew members were killed; 33 survived and became prisoners of war, including Jenisch. Jenisch then spent six and a half years in British captivity before returning to Germany in June 1947.<ref name="uboatnet" />Template:Sfn

Wolfpacks

U-32 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

• Prien (12 – 17 June 1940)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name of ship	Nationality	Tonnage<ref group="Note">Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
18 September 1939	Kensington Court	Template:Flag	4,863	Sunk
28 September 1939	Jern	Template:Flag	875	Sunk
5 October 1939	Marwarri	Template:Flag	8,063	Damaged (mine)
6 October 1939	Lochgoil	Template:Flag	9,462	Damaged (mine)
31 December 1939	Luna	Template:Flag	959	Sunk
2 March 1940	Lagaholm	Template:Flag	2,818	Sunk
18 June 1940	Altair	Template:Flag	1,522	Sunk
18 June 1940	Nuevo Ons	Template:Flag	108	Sunk
18 June 1940	Sálvora	Template:Flag	108	Sunk
19 June 1940	Labud	Template:Flag	5,334	Sunk
22 June 1940	Eli Knudsen	Template:Flag	9,026	Sunk
30 August 1940	Chelsea	Template:Flag	4,804	Sunk
30 August 1940	Mill Hill	Template:Flag	4,318	Sunk
30 August 1940	Norne	Template:Flag	3,971	Sunk
1 September 1940	Template:HMS	Template:Navy	8,000	Damaged
22 September 1940	Collegian	Template:Flag	7,886	Damaged
25 September 1940	Mabriton	Template:Flag	6,694	Sunk
26 September 1940	Corrientes	Template:Flag	6,863	Damaged
26 September 1940	Darcoila	Template:Flag	4,084	Sunk
26 September 1940	Tancred	Template:Flag	6,094	Sunk
28 September 1940	Empire Ocelot	Template:Flag	5,759	Sunk
29 September 1940	Bassa	Template:Flag	5,267	Sunk
30 September 1940	Haulerwijk	Template:Flag	3,278	Sunk
2 October 1940	Kayeson	Template:Flag	4,606	Sunk
28 October 1940	Template:RMS	Template:Flag	42,348	Sunk

Bibliography

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External links

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