USS Maine (ACR-1) known for her loss in Havana Harbor on the evening of 15 February 1898. Sent to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt against Spain, she exploded suddenly, without warning, and sank quickly, killing nearly three quarters of her crew. The cause and responsibility for her sinking remained unclear after a board of inquiry investigated. Nevertheless, popular opinion in the U.S., fanned by inflammatory articles printed in the "yellow press" by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, blamed Spain. The phrase, "Remember the "Maine!" To hell with Spain!", became a rallying cry for action, which came with the Spanish–American War
Japanese cruiser Mikuma as was transport "Ryujo Maru" with IJA 16th Army commander Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura—although the general survived the sinking. In March, "Mikuma" and Cruiser Division 7 were based at Singapore to cover Japanese landings in Sumatra and the seizure of the Andaman Islands. From 1 April 1942 Cruiser Division 7 based from Mergui joined with Cruiser Division 4 to participate in the Indian Ocean raids. "Mikuma", "Mogami" and destroyer detached and formed the Southern Group, which hunted for merchant shipping in the Bay of Bengal, while "Chōkai", Destroyer Squadron 4's light cruiser and destroyers , , and covered the northern