USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -On the night of February 15, an explosion in Havana Harbor tore through the ship’s hull, killing more than 260 sailors on board. One hundred and two members of the crew survived.

Detailed explanation-2: -At 9:40pm on February 15, 1898, the battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 268 men and shocking the American populace. Of the two-thirds of the crew who perished, only 200 bodies were recovered and 76 identified.

Detailed explanation-3: -Two officers and 251 enlisted sailors and marines either killed by the explosion or drowned.

Detailed explanation-4: -An official U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry ruled in March that the ship was blown up by a mine, without directly placing the blame on Spain. Much of Congress and a majority of the American public expressed little doubt that Spain was responsible and called for a declaration of war.

Detailed explanation-5: -The front third of the ship was immediately destroyed and more than 250 Marines and sailors were killed. This sparked the U.S. involvement in the Cuban uprising and began the Spanish-American War. Of the Marines aboard, only 11 survived.