German submarine U-32 (1937)

Last updated
U-32 IWM HU 1011.jpg
Pre-war photograph of U-32. Note the boat's number on the conning tower which was erased on the commencement of hostilities
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-32
Ordered1 April 1935
Builder DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Cost4,189,000 
Yard number913
Laid down15 March 1936
Launched25 February 1937
Commissioned15 April 1937
FateSunk, 30 October 1940
General characteristics
Class & type Type 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 &
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.

Contents

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]

Design

As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-32 had a displacement of 626 tonnes (616 long tons) when at the surface and 745 tonnes (733 long tons) while submerged. [3] She had a total length of 64.51 m (211 ft 8 in), a pressure hull length of 45.50 m (149 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in), and a draught of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,100 to 2,310 metric horsepower (1,540 to 1,700 kW; 2,070 to 2,280 shp) for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 73–94 nautical miles (135–174 km; 84–108 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,200 nautical miles (11,500 km; 7,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-32 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]

Service history

U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships, for a total of 116,836  gross register tons  (GRT) and damaging five more, totalling 32,274  GRT and 8,000 tons. On 28 October 1940 U-32, under the command of Hans Jenisch, sank the 42,348 GRT liner Empress of Britain, 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. [1]

Fate

U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland, in position 55°37′N12°19′W / 55.617°N 12.317°W / 55.617; -12.317 , by depth charges from the British destroyers Harvester and Highlander 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. [1] [4]

Wolfpacks

U-32 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateName of shipNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [5]
18 September 1939 Kensington Court Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 4,863Sunk
28 September 1939 Jern Flag of Norway.svg Norway 875Sunk
5 October 1939 Marwarri Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 8,063Damaged (mine)
6 October 1939 Lochgoil Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 9,462Damaged (mine)
31 December 1939 Luna Flag of Norway.svg Norway 959Sunk
2 March 1940 Lagaholm Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 2,818Sunk
18 June 1940 Altair Flag of Norway.svg Norway 1,522Sunk
18 June 1940 Nuevo Ons Flag of Spain (1938-1945).svg Spain 108Sunk
18 June 1940 Sálvora Flag of Spain (1938-1945).svg Spain 108Sunk
19 June 1940 Labud Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg Yugoslavia 5,334Sunk
22 June 1940 Eli Knudsen Flag of Norway.svg Norway 9,026Sunk
30 August 1940 Chelsea Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 4,804Sunk
30 August 1940 Mill Hill Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 4,318Sunk
30 August 1940 Norne Flag of Norway.svg Norway 3,971Sunk
1 September 1940 HMS Fiji Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 8,000Damaged
22 September 1940CollegianCivil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 7,886Damaged
25 September 1940 Mabriton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 6,694Sunk
26 September 1940 Corrientes Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 6,863Damaged
26 September 1940 Darcoila Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 4,084Sunk
26 September 1940 Tancred Flag of Norway.svg Norway 6,094Sunk
28 September 1940 Empire Ocelot Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 5,759Sunk
29 September 1940 Bassa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 5,267Sunk
30 September 1940 Haulerwijk Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 3,278Sunk
2 October 1940 Kayeson Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 4,606Sunk
28 October 1940 Empress of Britain Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 42,348Sunk

References

Notes

  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
  4. Kemp 1997, p. 67.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-32". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

Bibliography