Rotary receives history lesson
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Bob Christians, a local builder and U. S. Navy veteran of the “Silent Service,” recently talked about the history of the USS Razorback and its part in World War II to the Rotary Club of Hot Springs Village.
The oldest- surviving active submarine in the world is moored in North Little Rock, with an accomplished history of service during World War II.
The Balao class submarine was launched on Jan. 27, 1944, and remained in service until 1970, when it was decommissioned and sold to the Turkish Navy until decommissioning in 2002.
The proud vessel was then bought at scrap metal price for $ 37,500 by the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
Christians described how submarines of World War II sunk more than 1,200 Japanese merchant and war ships at the “cost” of 52 subs and more than 3,500 lives lost. The 1,200 sunken ships represented more than 50 percent of the Japanese flotilla of ships, merchant and war ships combined. He shared his experience of living aboard a submarine in very tight confinement during the intensity of war.
Christians talked about the difficulties in obtaining the ship back from Turkey and the perils experienced in towing the vessel back to the United States and, ultimately, to North Little Rock. Today, the Razorback is permanently moored on the river at North Little Rock and provides visitors with a view of the ship as it was during its service in the war.
Visitors have to manage the stairways and the boat as it was during active service because this ship has not been modified in any way to provide easier access for tourists. That was one of the conditions established prior to the ship being purchased.
Christians was born in Iowa and, following graduation from high school, enlisted in the U. S. Navy and subsequently volunteered for duty in the submarine service. He served on board USS Pomfret, which was a “sister ship” of the Razorback.
Christians noted that the Razorback was not named for the state’s beloved University of Arkansas- Fayetteville mascot, but after the Razorback whale. All World War II subs were named after a species of the deep.
Christians and his program were introduced to the Rotary Club by his wife and Rotarian, Mary Christians.