The warship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898 was USS Maine, whose destruction helped precipitate the Spanish-American War. The ship exploded and sank on February 15, 1898, while stationed in Havana, Cuba.
USS Maine had been sent to Havana to protect American interests during Cuba’s struggle against Spanish rule. The blast destroyed the forward part of the ship and killed most of its crew. At the time, many American newspapers blamed Spain, popularizing the slogan “Remember the Maine!” and intensifying public pressure for military action.
The explosion was a catalyst rather than the sole or direct cause of the war. The United States and Spain were already in conflict over Cuba, and President William McKinley initially resisted rushing into war. Later investigations disputed the original theory that a Spanish mine caused the blast; modern assessments have often favored an internal accident involving a coal-bunker fire.
The Spanish-American War began in April 1898. It ended with Spain relinquishing control of Cuba and ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.