HMS H32

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 LT at the surface and 510 LT while submerged. The submarine had a length overall of 171 ft, a beam of 15 ft, and a draught of 13 ft. The submarine was driven by a two-shaft diesel engine providing a total power of 480 hp and two electric motors each providing 620 hp power. The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 kn. The submarine would normally carry 16.4 LT of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 LT.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 kn and a submerged speed of 10.5 kn. Post-H20 H-class submarines had ranges of 2985 nmi at speeds of 7.5 kn when surfaced. H32 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21 in torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21-inch torpedoes. 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.

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. 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 (1912). 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. Beginning on 22 March 1941, the Royal Navy and Allies began deploying submarines off Brest, France to prevent the German battleships GERMAN BATTLESHIP Gneisenau and GERMAN BATTLESHIP Scharnhorst from leaving port. H32 was among the submarines assigned to the patrol.

HMS H32 was sold for scrap at Troon on 18 October 1944.