HMS P32 was a U Class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness in 1941. It was commissioned on 3 May 1941.

The submarine left Malta on 12 August 1941, under the command of Lt Cdr D A B Abdy, for a patrol area near Tripoli. On 18 August 1941, HMS P32 was attempting to attack an Italian convoy. As the submarine rose to periscope depth, an explosion, sometimes attributed to a mine, occurred on the port side. This instantly flooded the forward section and killed eight crew members.

Twenty-four men survived the initial explosion and the submarine bottoming out. Most of the survivors retired to the engine room to attempt an escape using DSEA apparatus. Meanwhile, Lt Cdr Abdy, PO Kirk, and ERA Martin attempted to escape through the conning tower. Martin was killed during the attempt, but Abdy and Kirk successfully surfaced and were picked up by an Italian motor torpedo boat. They were held as prisoners of war until they were exchanged in 1943.

The wreck of the submarine was discovered in 1999. It lies about 15 nautical miles ENE of Tripoli at a depth of approximately 61 metres. Divers who have surveyed the site reported that the metal on the port bow is twisted outward, which supports the possibility of an internal explosion.