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.[1] In May 1940, the ship was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine, renamed Clara and converted into a Reconnaissance scout [2] for naval operations by the German battleship and cruiser in the Atlantic.[3] In June 1941, the ship was converted again to operate as a U-boat supply vessel.[3] On the 3 October 1941, she was sunk by the British cruiser .
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.[4] The first ship in the series was Kota Inten built in 1928.[4]
On 3 October 1941, Kota Pinang was sighted at 43.51°N -24.06°W, west of Cape Finisterre by the cruiser .[5] At 17:18 hours, Kota Pinang reported a ship behind her.[6] At the time, Kota Pinang was being escorted by the . 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[6] Heavy rain stymied her efforts and at 17:28 hours Kenya opened fire on Kota Pinang, which was heavily damaged.[6] At 17:43 the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship and at 17:45, scuttling charges exploded in Kota Pinangs engine room.[6] Kenya fired a single torpedo to complete the ships sinking.[6]
The had been ordered to escort Kota Pinang to the South Atlantic and waited at their rendezvous point, not realising she had already been sunk.[7]