SM U-32 (Germany)

SM U-32 was a German Type U 31 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy.

Her construction was ordered on 29 March 1912 and her keel was laid down on 8 November 1912 by Germaniawerft of Kiel. She was launched on 28 January 1914 and commissioned on 3 September 1914 under the command of Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim. On 1 February 1916 Spiegel was relieved by Kurt Hartwig who commanded the boat until 16 February 1918 when Karl Albrecht took over. Albrecht commanded her until her loss.

U-32 conducted 11 patrols, sinking 37 merchant ships totalling and one warship for 14,000 tons. On 9 January 1917, to the East of Malta, U-32 sank the British pre-dreadnought battleship , with the loss of 15 lives.

Design Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.

U-32 had an overall length of , her pressure hull was long. The boat's beam was (o/a), while the pressure hull measured . Type 31s had a draught of with a total height of . The boats displaced a total of ; when surfaced and when submerged.

U-32 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of , and when submerged. Cruising range was at on the surface, and at under water. Diving depth was .

The U-boat was armed with four torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-32 was equipped in 1915 with two Uk L/30 deck guns. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.

Fate

On 8 May 1918 north-west of Malta she was shelled and then depth charged by and sunk with all hands, 41 dead.

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate8 April 1915Chateaubriand2,247Sunk11 April 1915Wayfarer9,599Damaged22 June 1915Kiew1,115Captured as prize4 March 1916Teutonian4,824Sunk5 March 1916Rothesay2,007Sunk6 March 1916Trois Freres107Sunk7 March 1916Ville Du Havre3,109Sunk18 October 1916Athene1,847Sunk30 October 1916Marquis Bacquehem4,396Sunk30 October 1916Vertunno3,239Sunk27 November 1916City of Birmingham7,498Sunk27 November 1916Karnak6,816Sunk30 November 1916S. Antonio611Sunk1 December 1916Cuore Di Gesu199Sunk1 December 1916Lampo59Sunk2 December 1916Angela Madre G.155Sunk3 December 1916Lucellum5,184Damaged6 December 1916Campania4,297Sunk8 December 1916Carmelina Dominici94Sunk12 December 1916Saint Ursula5,011Sunk7 January 1917Rosalia L.7,186Sunk9 January 191714,000Sunk10 April 1917Porto Di Rodi2,480Sunk12 April 1917Kildale3,830Sunk17 April 1917Costante3,479Sunk18 April 1917Rinaldo4,321Sunk21 April 1917Giosue140Sunk12 May 1917Locksley Hall3,635Sunk24 May 1917Biarritz2,758Sunk16 July 1917Khephren2,774Sunk16 July 1917Porto Di Adalia4,073Sunk17 July 1917Virent3,771Damaged19 July 1917Varvara1,316Sunk20 September 1917Kurdistan3,720Sunk22 September 1917Caroline107Sunk24 September 1917Iriston3,221Sunk29 September 1917Sanwen3,689Sunk4 October 1917Constantinos Embiricos2,611Sunk4 October 1917Nicolaos Roussos2,421Sunk10 October 1917Transporteur1,812Sunk21 April 1918Bellview3,567Sunk1 May 1918Era2,379Sunk

Original documents from Room 40

SM U-32 (Germany)

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