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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
Died: 18-08-1942
Ballard, Frederick  P/JX 138012
Able Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 23
Banks, William James Thomas  D/KX 80623
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 29
Barnett, Arthur  C/J 107339
Telegraphist Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 34
Barrow, Wallace Charles  P/JX 127660
Petty Officer Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 31
Bates, Colin  C/KX 97604
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 20
Bowman, Leslie Wilson  P/KX 80760
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 28
Breeds, Ronald Mark  C/JX 139418
Able Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 23
Chapman, Victor Frank  C/JX 148569
Leading Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 20
Cooper, Sidney Wesley  P/MX 54526
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 28
Corn, Charles Foster  P/SSX 23673
Able Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 21
Edwards, Harold  D/KX 85743
Leading Stoker Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 27
Giles, Arthur  C/M 18335
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 41
Hargreaves, Eric  D/JX 142928
Leading Signalman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 22
Honeysett, Frederick Robert John  C/JX 139987
Telegraphist Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 23
Kelly, Patrick  D/KX 86437
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 26
Lyons, Thomas  P/SSX 21499
Telegraphist Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 21
Martin, William Henry  D/MX 48188
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 32
McLane, William  D/JX 206099
Ordinary Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 21
Millar, Michael Fitzadam 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 20
Morris, Richard Lionel Stanley 
Lieutenant Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 24
Print, George Edward  C/J 115194
Leading Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 31
Roberts, James Thomas  C/JX 208578
Ordinary Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 21
Scard, Ronald James  P/KX 87485
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 25
Smithard, Richard MacLean 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 21
Stewart, William Ross  C/JX 151499
Leading Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 24
Styles, William John  D/KX 194930
Ordinary Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 25
Waddington, Frederick James  D/JX 165278
Able Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 22
Walford, Denis Eustace  DSM P/JX 137009
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 25
Wallen, Fred  C/K 66966
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-08-1942 Aged: 36
Winter, James  P/JX 147924
Able Seaman Died: 18-08-1942 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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Uproar (P 31) P 33