SM U-32 (Germany)
History | |
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Name | U-32 |
Ordered | 29 March 1912 |
Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
Yard number | 192 |
Laid down | 8 November 1912 |
Launched | 28 January 1914 |
Commissioned | 3 September 1914 |
Fate | Sunk 8 May 1918 north-west of Malta. 41 dead. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | German Type U 31 submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
Boats & landing craft carried | 1 dinghy |
Complement | 4 officers, 31 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 11 patrols |
Victories: |
SM U-32 was a German Type U 31 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/HMS_Cornwallis_%281901%29_sinking_9_January_1917.jpg/300px-HMS_Cornwallis_%281901%29_sinking_9_January_1917.jpg)
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 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 106,035 gross register tons (GRT) and one warship for 14,000 tons. On 9 January 1917, to the East of Malta, U-32 sank the British pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Cornwallis, with the loss of 15 lives.
Design[]
German 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.[4]
U-32 had an overall length of 64.70 m (212 ft 3 in), her pressure hull was 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) long. The boat's beam was 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) with a total height of 7.68–8.04 m (25 ft 2 in–26 ft 5 in). The boats displaced a total of 971 tonnes (956 long tons); 685 t (674 long tons) when surfaced and 878 t (864 long tons) when submerged.[4]
U-32 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 1,850 metric horsepower (1,361 kW; 1,825 bhp) for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph), and 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) when submerged. Cruising range was 8,790 nautical miles (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) under water. Diving depth was 50 m (164 ft 1 in).[4]
The U-boat was armed with four 50 cm (20 in) 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 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck guns. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.[4]
Fate[]
![SM U-32 (Germany) is located in Mediterranean](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Mediterranean_Sea_location_map.svg/177px-Mediterranean_Sea_location_map.svg.png)
![SM U-32 (Germany) SM U-32 (Germany)](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/6px-Red_pog.svg.png)
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[]
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[5] |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 April 1915 | Chateaubriand | ![]() |
2,247 | Sunk |
11 April 1915 | Wayfarer | ![]() |
9,599 | Damaged |
22 June 1915 | Kiew | ![]() |
1,115 | Captured as prize |
4 March 1916 | Teutonian | ![]() |
4,824 | Sunk |
5 March 1916 | Rothesay | ![]() |
2,007 | Sunk |
6 March 1916 | Trois Freres | ![]() |
107 | Sunk |
7 March 1916 | Ville Du Havre | ![]() |
3,109 | Sunk |
18 October 1916 | Athene | ![]() |
1,847 | Sunk |
30 October 1916 | Marquis Bacquehem | ![]() |
4,396 | Sunk |
30 October 1916 | Vertunno | ![]() |
3,239 | Sunk |
27 November 1916 | City of Birmingham | ![]() |
7,498 | Sunk |
27 November 1916 | Karnak | ![]() |
6,816 | Sunk |
30 November 1916 | S. Antonio | ![]() |
611 | Sunk |
1 December 1916 | Cuore Di Gesu | ![]() |
199 | Sunk |
1 December 1916 | Lampo | ![]() |
59 | Sunk |
2 December 1916 | Angela Madre G. | ![]() |
155 | Sunk |
3 December 1916 | Lucellum | ![]() |
5,184 | Damaged |
6 December 1916 | Campania | ![]() |
4,297 | Sunk |
8 December 1916 | Carmelina Dominici | ![]() |
94 | Sunk |
12 December 1916 | Saint Ursula | ![]() |
5,011 | Sunk |
7 January 1917 | Rosalia L. | ![]() |
7,186 | Sunk |
9 January 1917 | HMS Cornwallis | ![]() |
14,000 | Sunk |
10 April 1917 | Porto Di Rodi | ![]() |
2,480 | Sunk |
12 April 1917 | Kildale | ![]() |
3,830 | Sunk |
17 April 1917 | Costante | ![]() |
3,479 | Sunk |
18 April 1917 | Rinaldo | ![]() |
4,321 | Sunk |
21 April 1917 | Giosue | ![]() |
140 | Sunk |
12 May 1917 | Locksley Hall | ![]() |
3,635 | Sunk |
24 May 1917 | Biarritz | ![]() |
2,758 | Sunk |
16 July 1917 | Khephren | ![]() |
2,774 | Sunk |
16 July 1917 | Porto Di Adalia | ![]() |
4,073 | Sunk |
17 July 1917 | Virent | ![]() |
3,771 | Damaged |
19 July 1917 | Varvara | ![]() |
1,316 | Sunk |
20 September 1917 | Kurdistan | ![]() |
3,720 | Sunk |
22 September 1917 | Caroline | ![]() |
107 | Sunk |
24 September 1917 | Iriston | ![]() |
3,221 | Sunk |
29 September 1917 | Sanwen | ![]() |
3,689 | Sunk |
4 October 1917 | Constantinos Embiricos | ![]() |
2,611 | Sunk |
4 October 1917 | Nicolaos Roussos | ![]() |
2,421 | Sunk |
10 October 1917 | Transporteur | ![]() |
1,812 | Sunk |
21 April 1918 | Bellview | ![]() |
3,567 | Sunk |
1 May 1918 | Era | ![]() |
2,379 | Sunk |
Original documents from Room 40[]
The following is a verbatim transcription of the recorded activities of SM U-32 known to British Naval Intelligence, Room 40 O.B.:[6]
"SM U-32.
Oberlt.z.S. Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, later to U-93. Kaptlt. Hartwig October 1916 to Sept/October 1918, then to U-63. Kaptlt. Karl Albrecht, lost with her. Came off the stocks at Kiel about the end of October 1914 and did trials at Kiel School, leaving for the North Sea on 27 November. In December 1914 and January 1915, and February 1915, she was occasionally employed on patrol in the Bight, and was twice in dockyard hands with engine or other trouble. She was attached to the 4th Half Flotilla.
- 3 – 17 April 1915. Channel via Dover. Home northabout 1 S.S., 1 sailing vessel sunk, in Channel.
- 12 – 24 June 1915. North Sea, 1 prize taken in.
- 9 – 13 August 1915. Bight patrol.
- 14th – ? 16 August 1915. Bight anti-air raid patrol.
- 22 – 27 August 1915. North Sea. Returned owing to compass failure.
- 11 – 13 September 1915. To Flanders (Ostend).
- 19 – 21 September 1915. Ostend to Emden.
- ? 2 October 1915 – ? 4 October 1915. Bight patrol.
- 20 October 1915. Emden to List.
- 24 – 27 October 1915. North Sea.
- 29 December 1915 – 2 January 1916. ? North Sea patrol.
- 17 January 1916. On Bight patrol.
- 23 January – 3 February 1916. On Bight patrol.
- 11 – 14 February 1916. On Bight patrol.
- 26 February – 17 March 1916. Northabout to Channel approach. Sank 2 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
- 16 – 18 April 1916. Bight patrol.
- 22 April 1916. Bight patrol.
- 27 April – 8 May 1916. North Sea patrol.
- 16 May – 3 June 1916. North Sea patrol (Jutland Battle).
- 24 – 25 August 1916. Bight patrol.
- 28 August – 1 September 1916. North Sea patrol.
- 20 September – 1 October 1916. ? North Sea.
- 16 October – 7/8 November 1916. Northabout to Mediterranean. Arrived Cattaro 7/8 November. Sank 2 S.S. and was fired at by S.S. ARLINGTON COURT on 30 October. When in Mediterranean she was with Pola-Cattaro Flotilla.
- End of November – Middle of December 1916. Proceeded out from Cattaro and cruised in Mediterranean (central). Sank 6 S.S., 9 sailing vessels (including the French S.S. KARNAK). U-32 with another submarine seems to have been concerned in attack on British S.S. NAGOYA but was driven off by gunfire.
- 2 January 1917 – 18 January 1917. On a cruise in central Mediterranean. Sank 2 S.S., 1 sailing vessel, and H.M.S. CORNWALLIS.
- February 1917 – March 1918. Operating in Mediterranean.
- 16 April 1918. Left Cattaro and cruised in western Mediterranean. Sank 1 S.S. and missed another by torpedo. On 24 April was sighted 50 miles N. of Algiers. She was sunk on 8 May 1918 by H.M.S. WALLFLOWER in 36°8'N., 13°30'E., apparently while returning from this cruise."
Note: S.S. = Steam Ship; S.V. = Sailing Vessel; northabout, Muckle Flugga, Fair I. = around Scotland; Sound, Belts, Kattegat = via North of Denmark to/from German Baltic ports; Bight = to/from German North Sea ports; success = sinking of ships
Koerver, Hans Joachim (2009). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol II., The Fleet in Being. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-77-0.
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations[]
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Hartwig (Pour le Merite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Albrecht (Pour le Merite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 6.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 32". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918 (Published below – Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918)
Bibliography[]
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Spindler, Arno (1966) [1932]. Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten. 5 Vols. Berlin: Mittler & Sohn. Vols. 4+5, dealing with 1917+18, are very hard to find: Guildhall Library, London, has them all, also Vol. 1-3 in an English translation: The submarine war against commerce.
- Beesly, Patrick (1982). Room 40: British Naval Intelligence 1914-1918. London: H Hamilton. ISBN 978-0-241-10864-2.
- Halpern, Paul G. (1995). A Naval History of World War I. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-85728-498-0.
- Roessler, Eberhard (1997). Die Unterseeboote der Kaiserlichen Marine. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 978-3-7637-5963-7.
- Schroeder, Joachim (2002). Die U-Boote des Kaisers. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 978-3-7637-6235-4.
- Koerver, Hans Joachim (2008). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol I., The Fleet in Action. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-76-3.
- Koerver, Hans Joachim (2009). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol II., The Fleet in Being. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-77-0.
External links[]
- Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918. Great photo quality, comments in German.
- A 44 min. film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35. A German propaganda film without dead or wounded; many details about submarine warfare in World War I.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 32". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- Room 40: original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40 Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.
- German Type U 31 submarines
- U-boats commissioned in 1914
- Maritime incidents in 1918
- U-boats sunk in 1918
- World War I submarines of Germany
- World War I shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- U-boats sunk by British warships
- 1914 ships
- Ships built in Kiel
- Ships lost with all hands