SOUTH VIETNAM: NAVY OFFICERS SHOW WEAPONS FOR VIET CONG TO PRESS - CAPTURED FROM COASTAL FREIGHTER

Record ID: 230348

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: NAVY OFFICERS SHOW WEAPONS FOR VIET CONG TO PRESS - CAPTURED FROM COASTAL FREIGHTER
  • Date: 15th May 1966
  • Summary: THE CAPTURED WEAPONS. Initials AA/V-S/CR/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th May 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAIGON -- SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVABGL48YGFKPBS4ENPCYU46Q37J
  • Story Text: AT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE NAVY HEADQUARTERS IN SAIGON THERE'S A DISPLAY OF WEAPONS CAPTURED FROM THE VIET CONG LATE LAST TUESDAY. THE WEAPONS WERE EN ROUTE FOR THE VIET CONG IN A 120 FOOT (37 METRE) LONG STEEL-HULLED COASTAL FREIGHTER. THE FREIGHTER WAS DISCOVERED OFF THE CAU MAU PENINSULA AND, AFTER COASTGUARDS HAD BEEN DRIVEN OFF BY GUNFIRE, DESTROYED BY AMERICAN PLANES AND SHIPS.

    A U.S. NAVY STATEMENT SAID THE COASTER CARRIED THE LARGEST CONSIGNMENT OF WEAPONS INTERCEPTED SINCE A BOAT WAS SUNK WITH MORE THAN 80 TONS OF ARMS IN FEBRUARY 1965.

    THE FREIGHTER CARRIED NO FLAG BUT SOUTH VIETNAMESE NAVY OFFICERS SAID THAT BOAT HAD THREE CHINESE CHARACTERS PAINTED ON HER BOW. THESE WERE THE ONLY SIGNS OF IDENTIFICATION ON THE SHIP WHICH WAS CUT IN TWO WHEN ATTACKED AND SUNK.

    MORE THAN TEN TONS OF WAR EQUIPMENT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE SUNKEN BOAT. SOME OF THE ARMS WERE SAID TO BEAR SOVIET AND CHINESE MARKINGS. ARMS ALREADY SALVAGED INCLUDE A 57 MM RECOILESS RIFLE AND AMMUNITION, .50 CALIBRE MACHINE GUNS AND AMMUNITION, .30 CALIBRE MACHINE GUNS, 75 ROUNDS OF 81MM MORTAR AMMUNITION AND GRENADES, AND A HUGE QUANTITY OF SMALL ARMS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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