MV Kota Pinang (Reconnaissance ship)

MV Kota Pinang was a cargo liner ordered by Rotterdam Lloyd and built by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij in Amsterdam in 1930. She was launched on 23 November 1929.^[2] In May 1940, the ship was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine, renamed Clara and converted into a Reconnaissance scout ^[3] for naval operations by the German battleship Bismarck and cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Atlantic.^[4] In June 1941, the ship was converted again to operate as a U-boat supply vessel.^[4] On the 3 October 1941, she was sunk by the British cruiser Kenya.

Kota Pinang in the North Sea Canal, just after being completed.
History
Name	Kota Pinang (1930–1940) Klara (1940–1941)
Owner	Rotterdam Lloyd
Operator	Kriegsmarine (1940–41)
Port of registry	Rotterdam
Builder	Nederlandsche SM, Amsterdam
Yard number	201
Laid down	16 January 1929[1]
Launched	23 November 1929
Completed	29 May 1930
Identification	1930: code letters PHRT by 1934: call sign PFLT
Fate	Scuttled, 1941
General characteristics
Type	Cargo liner
Tonnage	7,275 GRT; 4,532 NRT
Length	464 ft 7 in (141.61 m) overall 449.4 ft (137.0 m) registered
Beam	60.7 ft (18.5 m)
Draught	26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Depth	29.7 ft (9.1 m)
Decks	3
Installed power	1 x MAN 7-cylinder 2-stroke double-acting diesel engine; 1,857 NHP; 5,200 BHP
Propulsion	1 x screw
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

Construction

Kota Pinang was one of a number of cargo liners built from the mid-1920s onwards by Rotterdam Lloyd to take Muslim pilgrims from the Dutch East Indies to Jeddah, on their journey to the Hajj.^[5] The first ship in the series was Kota Inten built in 1928.^[5]

Sinking

On 3 October 1941, Kota Pinang was sighted at 43.51°N 24.06°W / 43.51; -24.06, 750 miles (1,210 km) west of Cape Finisterre by the Fiji-class cruiser Kenya.^[6] At 17:18 hours, Kota Pinang reported a ship behind her.^[7] At the time, Kota Pinang was being escorted by the German submarine U-129. Kota Pinang attempted to disguise herself by signalling that she was an English freighter, in an attempt to lure Kenya across the line of fire, of her escort^[7] Heavy rain stymied her efforts and at 17:28 hours Kenya opened fire on Kota Pinang, which was heavily damaged.^[7] At 17:43 the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship and at 17:45, scuttling charges exploded in Kota Pinang's engine room.^[7] Kenya fired a single torpedo to complete the ships sinking.^[7]

The German submarine U-79 had been ordered to escort Kota Pinang to the South Atlantic and waited at their rendezvous point, not realising she had already been sunk.^[8]