<P> In January 1898 , Maine was sent from Key West , Florida , to Havana , Cuba , to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban War of Independence . Three weeks later , at 21 : 40 , on 15 February , an explosion on board Maine occurred in the Havana Harbor ( coordinates : 23 ° 08 ′ 07 '' N 82 ° 20 ′ 38 '' W ) . Later investigations revealed that more than 5 long tons ( 5.1 t ) of powder charges for the vessel 's six - and ten - inch guns had detonated , obliterating the forward third of the ship . The remaining wreckage rapidly settled to the bottom of the harbor . Most of Maine 's crew were sleeping or resting in the enlisted quarters , in the forward part of the ship , when the explosion occurred . In total , 260 men lost their lives as a result of the explosion or shortly thereafter , and six more died later from injuries . Captain Sigsbee and most of the officers survived , because their quarters were in the aft portion of the ship . Altogether there were 89 survivors , 18 of whom were officers . On 21 March , the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry , in Key West , declared that a naval mine caused the explosion . </P>
<P> In January 1898 , Maine was sent from Key West , Florida , to Havana , Cuba , to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban War of Independence . Three weeks later , at 21 : 40 , on 15 February , an explosion on board Maine occurred in the Havana Harbor ( coordinates : 23 ° 08 ′ 07 '' N 82 ° 20 ′ 38 '' W ) . Later investigations revealed that more than 5 long tons ( 5.1 t ) of powder charges for the vessel 's six - and ten - inch guns had detonated , obliterating the forward third of the ship . The remaining wreckage rapidly settled to the bottom of the harbor . Most of Maine 's crew were sleeping or resting in the enlisted quarters , in the forward part of the ship , when the explosion occurred . In total , 260 men lost their lives as a result of the explosion or shortly thereafter , and six more died later from injuries . Captain Sigsbee and most of the officers survived , because their quarters were in the aft portion of the ship . Altogether there were 89 survivors , 18 of whom were officers . On 21 March , the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry , in Key West , declared that a naval mine caused the explosion . </P>
when was the uss maine sent to cuba
when was the uss maine sent to cuba
January 1898
January 1898