Crossword Genius

Mad piranhas as terrible as fleet of warships (7,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spanish armada

'fleet of warships' is the definition.
(armada sent to England in 1588)

'mad piranhas as terrible' is the wordplay.
'terrible' is an anagram indicator.
'mad'+'piranhas'+'as'='madpiranhasas'
'madpiranhasas' with letters rearranged gives 'SPANISH ARMADA'.

'as' is the link.

(Other definitions for spanish armada that I've seen before include "Fleet sent against England in 1588" , "1588 invasion force" , "Famous naval fleet" , "Fleet that sailed from Lisbon in May fifteen eighty eight" , "1588 invasion fleet" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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