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.
Design As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-32 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-32 was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships, for a total of . Five more ships, including the light cruiser HMS Fiji, were damaged for a total of and 8,000 tons. On 28 October 1940 U-32, under the command of Hans Jenisch, sank the 42,348 GRT liner , 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.
Fate U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland, in position , by depth charges from the British destroyers and 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.
Wolfpacks U-32 took part in one wolfpack, namely: Prien (12 – 17 June 1940)
Summary of raiding history Date Name of ship Nationality TonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement. Fate18 September 1939Kensington Court4,863Sunk28 September 1939Jern875Sunk5 October 1939Marwarri8,063Damaged (mine)6 October 1939Lochgoil9,462Damaged (mine)31 December 1939Luna959Sunk2 March 1940Lagaholm2,818Sunk18 June 1940Altair1,522Sunk18 June 1940Nuevo Ons108Sunk18 June 1940Sálvora108Sunk19 June 1940Labud5,334Sunk22 June 1940Eli Knudsen9,026Sunk30 August 1940Chelsea4,804Sunk30 August 1940Mill Hill4,318Sunk30 August 1940Norne3,971Sunk1 September 19408,000Damaged22 September 1940Collegian7,886Damaged25 September 1940Mabriton6,694Sunk26 September 1940Corrientes6,863Damaged26 September 1940Darcoila4,084Sunk26 September 1940Tancred6,094Sunk28 September 1940Empire Ocelot5,759Sunk29 September 1940Bassa5,267Sunk30 September 1940Haulerwijk3,278Sunk2 October 1940Kayeson4,606Sunk28 October 194042,348Sunk
Notable people
Otto Salman: From 1 October to 11 December 1937 Salman served as the First Watch Officer (1WO) aboard U-32 with the 2nd U-boat Flotilla. Salman later served as the commander of German submarine U-52.
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