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
Name:	U-32
Ordered:	1 April 1935
Builder:	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Cost:	4,189,000 Reichsmark
Yard number:	913
Laid down:	15 March 1936
Launched:	25 February 1937
Commissioned:	15 April 1937
Fate:	Sunk, 30 October 1940
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type VIIA submarine
Displacement:	626 tonnes (616 long tons) surfaced 745 t (733 long tons) submerged
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
Height:	9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught:	4.37 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 11 × torpedoes or 22 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	2nd U-boat Flotilla 15 April 1937 – 30 October 1940
Identification codes:	M 00 459
Commanders:	Kptlt. Werner Lott 15 April 1937 – 15 August 1937 K.Kapt. Paul Büchel 16 August 1937 – 11 February 1940 Oblt.z.S. Hans Jenisch 12 February 1940 – 30 October 1940
Operations:	Nine: 1st patrol: 27 August – 1 September 1939 2nd patrol: 5–30 September 1939 3rd patrol: 28 December 1939 – 22 January 1940 4th patrol: 26 February – 23 March 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 commercial ships sunk (116,836 GRT) four commercial ships damaged (32,274 GRT) one warship damaged (8,000 GRT)

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 (Kptlt.) Werner Lott in command. On 15 August 1937, Lott was relieved by Korvettenkapitän (K.Kapt.) Paul Büchel and on 12 February 1940 Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Hans Jenisch took over, he was in charge of the boat until her loss.

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. 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).