When do bombs blow up?

[Elmas]

USS Mount Hood explosion

USS Mount Hood (AE-11) - Wikipedia
and other accidents

List of accidents and incidents involving transport or storage of ammunition - Wikipedia

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[bobbysocks]

I think I read somewhere that the Maine explosion was due to an unknown fire in a coal storage compartment that was next to a powder magazine...which started to Spanish American war.

 

[soulezoo]

As I recall, you are correct. A coal dust explosion, properly.

I watched a documentary where they made a dive on the ship and examined the bulkheads and it was actually quite easy to determine that the explosion came from the inside, and not from a mine or outside explosion.

And yes, William Randolph Hearst profited from fanning the flames of war.