How did the USS Maine sink?
In the evening of 15 February 1898, Maine sank when her forward gunpowder magazines exploded. Nearly three-quarters of the battleship’s crew died as a result of the explosion.
What happened to the cruiser Maine in 1898?
This cartoon followed the explosion of the cruiser Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. King Alphonso XIII is shown playing with toy boats in Cuba and is about to suffer „Retribution“. USS Maine was a United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor in February 1898, contributing to the outbreak of the Spanish–American War in April.
What happened to the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor?
February 15. The USS Maine explodes in Cuba’s Havana Harbor. A massive explosion of unknown origin sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing 260 of the fewer than 400 American crew members aboard. One of the first American battleships, the Maine weighed more than 6,000 tons and was built at a cost of more than $2 million.
Who was to blame for the destruction of the USS Maine?
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.
Why did the USS Maine explode in Cuba?
President William McKinley sends the battleship USS Maine to Havana to protect U.S. interests in Cuba. The Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, killing 266 men. An inquiry conducted by the U.S Navy concludes that the explosion was caused by the detonation of a mine under the ship.
What was the size of the USS Maine?
Transcript of USS Maine Explosion. The construction started for the USS Maine on October 17, 1888. It was the second „second-class“ battleship built. The USS Maine was the largest ship to be built in a U.S. Navy Yard, weighing at 6682 tons. The dimensions of the ship were 324′ 4″ tall 57′ long and 22′ 6″ wide.
What year was the USS Maine en route to Doom?
Illustration of the USS Maine en route to doom. February 22, 1898. The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California), Image 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
What kind of ship is the Maine?
Maine is described as an armored cruiser or second-class battleship, depending on the source. Commissioned in 1895, she was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after the state of Maine. Maine and the similar battleship Texas were both represented as an advance in American warship design, reflecting the latest European naval developments.