Which U.S. warship exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, precipitating the Spanish–American War?

The unfortunate U.S. warship that exploded in Havana Harbor, precipitating the Spanish–American War in 1898 was the USS Maine. The Maine had been sent to protect U.S. interests in Cuba during the Cuban revolt against Spain. The ship blew up in February 1898 without warning and sank. The event killed nearly three-quarters of her crew. The cause of her sinking and the identity of those who were responsible remained unclear after a U.S. Navy board of inquiry investigated. Popular opinion in the USA blamed Spain. American resentment was increased by inflammatory articles printed in newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. The phrase "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" became a rallying cry for the USA to take action against Spain.

The Maine was commissioned in 1895 and was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after the state of Maine. She was originally classified as an armored cruiser and was built as an American answer to the Brazilian battleship Riachuelo. At the time, she was being used to increase the U.S. naval presence and armament requirements in Latin America.