German submarine U-32 (1937)

Pre-war photograph of U-32. Note the boat's number on the conning tower which was erased on the commencement of hostilities
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-32
Ordered1 April 1935
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Cost4,189,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁
Yard number913
Laid down15 March 1936
Launched25 February 1937
Commissioned15 April 1937
FateSunk by depth charges from HMS Harvester northwest of Ireland, 30 October 1940
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIA submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 64.51 m (211 ft 8 in) o/a
  • 45.50 m (149 ft 3 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught4.37 m (14 ft 4 in)
Installed power
  • 2,100–2,310 PS (1,540–1,700 kW; 2,070–2,280 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 6,200 nmi (11,500 km; 7,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 73–94 nmi (135–174 km; 84–108 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 230–250 m (750–820 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 00 459
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 9 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 27 August – 1 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 5 – 30 September 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 28 December 1939 – 22 January 1940
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 26 February – 23 March 1940
  • b. 27 April – 5 May 1940
  • 5th patrol:
  • 8 – 14 May 1940
  • 6th patrol:
  • 3 June – 1 July 1940
  • 7th patrol:
  • 15 August – 8 September 1940
  • 8th patrol:
  • 18 September – 6 October 1940
  • 9th patrol:
  • 24 – 30 October 1940
Victories:
  • 20 merchant ships sunk
    (116,836 GRT)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (32,274 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (8,000 tons)

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.[1]

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIA boat U-32". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-32". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 December 2009.