German submarine U-32 (1937)

As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-32 had a displacement of {{convert|626|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|745|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}} She had a total length of {{convert|64.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|45.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|5.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.37|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2100 to 2310|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|8|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|73|-|94|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|6200|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-32 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}}

U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships, for a total of {{GRT|116,836|disp=long}} and damaging five more, totalling {{GRT|32,274}} and 8,000 tons. On 28 October 1940 U-32, under the command of Hans Jenisch, sank the 42,348 GRT liner {{RMS|Empress of Britain|1931|2}}, 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.

U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland, in position {{coord|55|37|N|12|19|W|scale:5000000|display=inline,title}}, by depth charges from the British destroyers {{HMS|Harvester|H19|2}} and {{HMS|Highlander|H44|2}} 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.{{sfn|Kemp|1997|p=67}}

U-32 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

• Prien (12 – 17 June 1940)

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

{{reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |title=German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |publisher=Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-186-6 |location=London, Annapolis, Md |translator-last=Brooks |translator-first=Geoffrey }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |series=Der U-Boot-Krieg |publisher=Mittler |year=1999 |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |volume=IV |location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |language=German |trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 }}
• {{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Bernard |title=Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War |publisher=Cassell Military Classics |year=1996 |isbn=0-304-35203-9 |pages=29, 32 |ref={{sfnRef|Edwards}}}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Erich |title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |series=German Warships 1815–1945 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |year=1991 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |volume=2 |location=London |translator-last=Thomas |translator-first=Keith |ref=CITEREFGröner1991 |translator-last2=Magowan |translator-first2=Rachel}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kemp |first=Paul |title=U-boats destroyed : German submarine losses in the World Wars |date=1997 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=1-55750-847-X |location=Annapolis, Md. |oclc=37460046 }}
• {{Cite book |last=Pickford |first=Nigel |url=https://archive.org/details/losttreasureship0000pick |title=Lost Treasure Ships of the Twentieth Century |publisher=National Geographic Society |year=1999 |isbn=0-7922-7472-5 |url-access=registration}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u32.htm |title=The Type VII boat U-32 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=8 December 2014}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0032.html |title=U 32 |last=Hofmann |first=Markus |website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de |language=German |access-date=7 December 2014}}

{{German Type VII submarines}}

{{October 1940 shipwrecks}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0032}}

Category:German Type VIIA submarines

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1937

Category:U-boats sunk in 1940

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:U-boats sunk by British warships

Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges

Category:1937 ships

Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean

Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)

Category:Military units and formations of Nazi Germany in the Spanish Civil War

Category:Maritime incidents in October 1940