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P 32

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U2
Fate: Submarine P32 was on patrol off Tripoli on 18th August 1942 when a convoy of five ships was sighted. The Commanding Officer attempted to dive under a minefield to give himself a better chance of attacking but the Submarine hit a mine that exploded, sending Submarine P32 to the bottom.

Eight men in the fore-ends were killed by the collision and twenty-two survived the bottoming. Three of the crew including the Captain made an escape from the Conning Tower whilst the remainder attempted an escape from the Engine Room.

Only two of the Crew made a successful escape. Lt Abdy and CPO Kirk survived as POWs.

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Commanders
1941: Lieutenant   David Anthony Baily Adby

The submarine left Malta on 12 August 1941 for a patrol area near Tripoli. Six days later, she sighted a small Italian convoy of five merchant ships protected by destroyers and torpedo boats heading towards the port. P32 and two other U-class submarines attempted to attack the convoy. HMS P33 was almost certainly sunk in the attempt, whilst HMS Unique managed to sink an Italian merchant ship, SS Esperia two days later.

P32 was not in a good position to make an attack, and so attempted to improve it by running underneath a moored minefield. Believing that she had cleared the minefield, the commanding officer, Lieutenant D A B Abdy ordered the submarine to rise to periscope depth to resume the attack.

A mine, either part of the minefield, or laid by an allied aircraft, exploded against her port side and flooded the portion of the boat forward of the control room, killing the eight crew members in that part of the vessel. The submarine developed a severe list and sank to the seabed.

Most of the 24 survivors retired to the engine room to attempt a DSEA escape. However Abdy, the coxswain Petty Officer Kirk, and ERA Martin attempted to escape using the conning tower. Martin was killed in the attempt but the other two men survived and were picked up by an Italian ship. No other crew members survived. Abdy and Kirk were exchanged for Italian prisoners of war in 1943.

Arebi diving team Tripoli-Libya discovered several parts of the P32 submarines bow (port side) about 15 nautical miles east-north-east of Tripoli, at a depth of about 200 feet. The hull was twisted towards the outside, evidence that the explosion appears to have come from inside the submarine.

Roll of Honour
30
 
Ballard, Frederick  P/JX 138012
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Banks, William James Thomas  D/KX 80623
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 29
Barnett, Arthur  C/J 107339
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 34
Barrow, Wallace Charles  P/JX 127660
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Petty Officer Aged: 31
Bates, Colin  C/KX 97604
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Bowman, Leslie Wilson  P/KX 80760
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 28
Breeds, Ronald Mark  C/JX 139418
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Chapman, Victor Frank  C/JX 148569
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 20
Cooper, Sidney Wesley  P/MX 54526
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 28
Corn, Charles Foster  P/SSX 23673
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Edwards, Harold  D/KX 85743
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 27
Giles, Arthur  C/M 18335
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 41
Hargreaves, Eric  D/JX 142928
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Leading Signalman Aged: 22
Honeysett, Frederick Robert John  C/JX 139987
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 23
Kelly, Patrick  D/KX 86437
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 26
Lyons, Thomas  P/SSX 21499
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 21
Martin, William Henry  D/MX 48188
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 32
McLane, William  D/JX 206099
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 21
Millar, Michael Fitzadam 
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 20
Morris, Richard Lionel Stanley 
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Lieutenant Aged: 24
Print, George Edward  C/J 115194
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 31
Roberts, James Thomas  C/JX 208578
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 21
Scard, Ronald James  P/KX 87485
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Smithard, Richard MacLean 
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 21
Stewart, William Ross  C/JX 151499
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 24
Styles, William John  D/KX 194930
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 25
Waddington, Frederick James  D/JX 165278
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Walford, Denis Eustace  DSM P/JX 137009
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 25
Wallen, Fred  C/K 66966
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 36
Winter, James  P/JX 147924
Died: 18th Aug, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22

Events

 19-06-1940   Laid Down
 15-12-1940   Launched
 03-05-1941   Completed
 18-08-1941   Sunk by mine off Tripoli
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