The first U-32 was a Type U-31 U-boat of the Kaiserliche Marine. 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 Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim. On 1 February 1916 Spiegel was relieved by Kurt Hartwig who commanded the boat until 16 February 1918 when Kurt Albrecht took over. Albrecht commanded her until her loss.
U-32 conducted 11 patrols, sinking 37 ships totalling 105,740 tons. On 8 May 1918 northwest of Malta she was shelled and then depth charged by HMS Wildflower and sunk with all hands -- 41 dead.
The second U-32 was a Type VIIA submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down 15 March 1936 by AG Weser of Bremen. She was launched on 25 February 1937 and commissioned on 15 April 1937 with Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott in command. On 15 August 1937 Lott was relieved by Paul Büchel, and on 12 February 1940 Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch took over and commanded the boat until her loss.
U-32 conducted nine patrols, sinking 20 ships totalling of 116,836 tons, and damaging five more totalling 40,274 tons. On 28 October 1940 U-32 sank the 42,350-ton liner Empress of Britain, which had been previously damaged by German bombs. Empress was the largest ship sunk by a U-boat.
Two days later, 30 October, U-32 was sunk northwest of Ireland by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Harvester and Highlander. 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.
The third U-32 is a Type 212 U-boat under construction by Thyssen Nordseewerke of Emden.