BATTLE OF YAGUAJAY LA COUBRE EXPLOSION

Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos lead approximately 500 revolutionaries against a smaller Cuban Army garrison of 250 soldiers at Yaguajay. The garrison puts up a spirited defence and its soldiers fight until they run out of ammunition.

Approximately 100 people are killed when a French freighter ship explodes in Havana Harbour. Castro uses the mass funeral to accuse the United States of sabotage. The Americans deny the charge but, regardless of the truth, diplomatic tensions increase significantly between Cuba and the USA.

Camilo Cienfuegos leads a revolutionary cavalry unit through Yaguajay as it heads for Havana

Fidel Castro (far left) and Che Guevara (third from left) march in demonstration to a memorial service for the victims of the La Coubre explosion, 5 March 1960