HMS H32

	HMS H32
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS H32
Builder	Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down	20 April 1917
Launched	19 November 1918
Commissioned	14 May 1919
Fate	Sold, 18 October 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	H-class submarine
Displacement	423 long tons (430 t) surfaced; 510 long tons (518 t) submerged;
Length	171 ft 0 in (52.12 m)
Beam	15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion	1 × 480 hp (358 kW) diesel engine ; 2 × 620 hp (462 kW) electric motors ;
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) surfaced; 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged;
Range	2,985 nmi (5,528 km) at 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) surfaced; 130 nmi (240 km) at 2 kn (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged;
Complement	22
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes ; 8 × 21 inch torpedoes ;

Last updated October 18, 2024

HMS H32 was a H-class submarine constructed for the Royal Navy. The submarine entered service in 1919 and served in the Second World War, one of only seven of the class to do so. During Warship Week 1942 H32 was adopted by Lydney RDC (Gloucestershire). The submarine was sold for scrap in 1944.

Design

Like all post-H20 H-class submarines, H32 had a displacement of 423 long tons (430 t) at the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged.^[1] The submarine had a length overall of 171 feet 9 inches (52.35 m),^[2] a beam of 15 feet 9 inches (4.80 m), and a draught of 13 feet 2 inches (4.01 m).^[1] The submarine was driven by a two-shaft diesel engine providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 620 horsepower (460 kW) power.^[1] The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). The submarine would normally carry 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons (18 t).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced.^[4]H32 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21-inch torpedoes.^[4] The design is based on the Holland 602 type submarine but altered to meet Royal Navy specifications. The submarine had a complement of twenty-two crew members.^[4]

Construction and career

H32 was built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 20 April 1917 and was launched on 19 November 1918.^[1]^[5] The boat was commissioned on 14 May 1919.

Upon commissioning, HMS H32 was assigned to be a tender to the submarine depot ship HMS Maidstone. The submarine was also the first Royal Navy boat to be fitted with the ASDIC (Anti Submarine Detector Investigation Committee) underwater sensor system. At the onset of the Second World War, H32 was a member of the 6th Submarine Flotilla. From 26–29 August 1939, the flotilla deployed to its war bases at Dundee and Blyth.^[6] Beginning on 22 March 1941, the Royal Navy and Allies began deploying submarines off Brest, France to prevent the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst from leaving port. H32 was among the submarines assigned to the patrol.^[7]

HMS H32 was sold for scrap at Troon on 18 October 1944.^[5]

Related Research Articles

HMS H44 was an H-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was built by Armstrong Whitworth and launched on 17 February 1919. She served in the Second World War. She had a complement of twenty-two crew members. She was sold in 1944 and was broken up at Troon in February 1945.

HMS H7 was a British H-class submarine built by the Canadian Vickers Co, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was laid down on 19 May 1915 and was commissioned in June 1915. HMS H7 was sold in 1921. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members, a length of 171 feet (52 m), and a surfaced range of 1,600 nautical miles at 10 knots.

HMS H11 was a British H-class submarine built by Fore River Yard, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was laid down on an unknown date and was commissioned in 1915. H11 along with HMS H12 to HMS H20 were all built in America but were interned by the United States government until the United States entered World War I. H11 was sold on 20 October 1920 in Dover and lost on tow to the breaker's yard. The wreck was identified 2007.

HMS H12 was a British H-class submarine built by Fore River Yard, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was laid down on an unknown date and commissioned in 1915. HMS H12 along with HMS H11 and HMS H13 to HMS H20 were all built in America but were interned by the United States government until the United States entered World War I. HMS H12 was sold in April 1920 in Dover.

HMS L27 was a L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I. The boat was not completed before the end of the war and was one of three L-class boats to serve during World War II. She served as training boat before being broken up in 1944.

HMS H52 was a British H class submarine built by HM Dockyard, Pembroke Dock. She was laid down on an unknown date, launched on 31 March 1919 and commissioned on 16 December 1919, the last Welsh-built fighting ship to enter the British Royal Navy.

HMS H51 was a British H class submarine built by HM Dockyard, Pembroke Dock. She was laid down on an unknown date, launched on 15 November 1918 and commissioned into the British Royal Navy on 1 September 1919. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

HMS H50 was a British H class submarine built by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir. She was laid down on 23 January 1918 and was commissioned on 3 February 1920. She had a complement of 22 crew members. HMS H50 was one of seven ships to survive to the end of World War II. She was sold for scrapping in July 1945 in Troon.

HMS H48 was a British H class submarine built by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir. She was laid down on 30 November 1917 and was commissioned on 23 June 1919. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members. HMS H48 was sold on 30 August 1935 in Llanelly.

HMS H47 was a British H class submarine built by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir. She was laid down on 20 November 1917 and was commissioned on 25 February 1919. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members. HMS H47 was sunk in a collision with British L class submarine L12 off Milford Haven, Wales on 9 July 1929. Twenty one of the crew were lost with only three survivors.

HMS H43 was a British H class submarine built by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne. She was laid down on 4 October 1917 and was commissioned on 25 November 1919. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

HMS H34 was a British H class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. The vessel was laid down on 20 November 1917 and was commissioned on 10 September 1919. She had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

HMS H30 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 18 March 1917 and was commissioned on 19 October 1918. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

HMS H29 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 19 March 1917 and was commissioned on 14 September 1918.

HMS H21 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, as the first of the Batch 3 H class submarines. She was launched on 20 October 1917 and was commissioned on 28 January 1918. H21 was an improved design of the H class which produced a larger displacement and the latest 21 inch torpedo tubes replacing the old 18 inch torpedo tubes. This would be incorporated into all batch 3 H class submarines. HMS H21 was sold to John Cashmore Ltd on 13 July 1926 for scrapping at Newport.

HMS H22 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the Batch 3 H class submarines. She was launched on 14 November 1917 and was commissioned on 6 November 1918.

HMS H23 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness as part of the Batch-3 H class submarine. She was launched on 29 January 1918 and was commissioned on 25 May 1918. She had a complement of 22 crew members.

HMS H24 was a British H-class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the Batch 3 H-class submarines. She was launched on 14 November 1917 and was commissioned on 30 April 1918.

HMS H25 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the Batch 3 H class submarines. She was launched on 27 April 1918 and was commissioned on 16 July 1918. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

HMS H26 was a British H class submarine built by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the Batch 3 H class submarines. She was launched on 15 November 1917 and was commissioned on 29 December 1918. It had a complement of twenty-two crew members.

References

1 2 3 4 Gardiner and Gray, p.92
↑ Walters, p.2
↑ J. D. Perkins (1999). "Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC-Boats and the Original H-CLASS". Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
1 2 3 "H-class". Battleships-Cruisers, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
1 2 Colledge, p.280
↑ Rohwer, p.1
↑ Rohwer, p.65

Bibliography

Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
Hutchinson, Robert (2001). Jane's submarines : war beneath the waves from 1776 to the present day. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780007105588.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Revised & Expanded ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
Walters, Derek (2004). The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84415-131-8.

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[gg92-1] 1 2 3 4 Gardiner and Gray, p.92

[Walters2004-2] Walters, p.2

[3] J. D. Perkins (1999). "Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC-Boats and the Original H-CLASS". Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

[batcru-4] 1 2 3 "H-class". Battleships-Cruisers, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

[colledge-5] 1 2 Colledge, p.280

[rohwer1-6] Rohwer, p.1

[7] Rohwer, p.65

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v t e Holland 602 type submarines
Royal Canadian Navy CH class	CH-14 CH-15
Chilean Navy Chilean H class	H1 ⁄ Guacolda H2 ⁄ Tegualda H3 ⁄ Rucumilla H4 ⁄ Guale H5 ⁄ Quidora H6 ⁄ Fresia
Regia Marina Italian H class	H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8
Imperial Russian and Soviet Navies American Holland class	AG-11 AG-12 AG-13 / AG-16 AG-14 AG-15 AG-21 AG-22 AG-23 AG-24 A-3 (AG-25) AG-26
Royal Navy British H class	H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8 H9 H10 H11 H12 H13 H14 H15 H16 H17 H18 H19 H20 H21 H22 H23 H24 H25 H26 H27 H28 H29 H30 H31 H32 H33 H34 H41 H42 H43 H44 H47 H48 H49 H50 H51 H52
United States Navy United States H class	H-1 H-2 H-3 H-4 H-5 H-6 H-7 H-8 H-9
Preceded by: G class Followed by: K class
List of submarines of the United States Navy List of submarine classes of the United States Navy