German submarine U-32 (1937)

German submarine U-32 was a Type VIIA U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 15 March 1936 by AG Weser of Bremen as Werk 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 (Krv.Kpt.) 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.

Service history
U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships, for a total of and damaging five more, totalling. On 28 October 1940 U-32, under the command of Hans Jenisch, sank the 42,348-ton liner RMS Empress of Britain (1931), which had been previously damaged by German bombs. Empress was the largest ship sunk by a U-boat.

Fate
U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland, in position 55.61667°N, -12.31667°W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS HMS Harvester (H19) and HMS Highlander (H44) on 30 October 1940. Nine of her crew died, 33 survived and were taken prisoner, including Jenisch, who spent six and a half years in British captivity before returning to Germany in June 1947.