Sinking of USS Maine
The Cuban War of Independence
Trouble in Cuba
During the Cuban War of Independence, USS Maine was sent to the harbor in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The USS Maine was sent to Havana to offer protection to Cubans who were fighting Spain for independence. Less than a month after anchoring in Havana harbor, on February 15, 1898, there was an explosion and the battleship sank, killing 268 sailors, which was three-quarters of the ship’s crew.
