HMS Rothesay, British frigate

Jan. 01, 1961 - Pirate seized cruise liner sighted 100 miles off Trinidad. HMS Rothesay searches the high seas. A Swedish vessel is reported to have sighted the 20, 000 ton Portuguese owned cruise liner Santa Maria carrying 600 passengers which was grabbed in the Caribbean yesterday in a machine gun and hand grenade battle by a band of men led by 65 year old Captain Galvao - a prominent opponent of Dr Antonio Salazar, the Portuguese President. The raiders have threatend to scuttle the liner if they have any outside interference. The British frigate HMS Rothesay has taken the lead in the search - and it is believed that orders have been given to board the Portuguese vessel - even if a battle is threatened by the mutineers, British and American warships in the hunt have the full support of the Portuguese Government. The seizure of the liner is regarded as one of the most fantastic acts of piracy in modern history. Photo shows view the frigate HMS Rothesay which is searching the high seas for the Santa Maria

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

20000 Acts Believed Fantastic Frigate Galvao Grabbed Grenade Incident Interference Machine-gun Mutineers Opponent Piracy Prominent Raiders Regarded Reported Rothesay Salazar Scuttle Searches Searching Seized Seizure Sighted Threatened Trinidad Warships

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