Operation Pluto
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2008-06-22T14:59:31Z
TonyW
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mv Battle of Normandy plate to bottom of article
{{Redirect-acronym|PLUTO|[[PLUTO reactor]]}}
:''See also: [[Pluto (disambiguation)]]''.
{{Campaignbox Western Front (World War II)}}
[[Image:Pluto pipline.jpg|thumb|right|A section of the pipe with the layers successively stripped back]]
'''Operation ''Pluto''''' ('''P'''ipe-'''L'''ines '''U'''nder '''T'''he '''O'''cean) was a [[World War II]] operation by [[United Kingdom|British]] scientists, oil companies and armed forces to construct undersea [[Pipeline transport|oil pipelines]] under the [[English Channel]] between [[England]] and [[France]]. The scheme was developed by [[Arthur Hartley]], chief engineer with the [[Anglo-Iranian Oil Company]], after Admiral [[Louis Mountbatten]] initiated the concept. Allied forces on the European continent required a tremendous amount of fuel. Pipelines were considered necessary to relieve dependence on oil tankers, which could be slowed by bad weather, were susceptible to [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[submarine]]s, and were also needed in the [[Pacific War]].
==Development==
Two types of pipeline were developed: the flexible ''HAIS'' pipe with a 3 inch (75 mm) diameter lead core, weighing around 55 long [[ton]]s per [[nautical mile]] (30 [[Tonne]]/[[km]]), was essentially a development by [[Siemens Brothers]] (in conjunction with the [[National Physical Laboratory, UK|National Physical Laboratory]]) of their existing [[undersea telegraph cable]]s, and known as HAIS from Hartley-Anglo-Iranian-Siemens.
The second type was a less flexible steel pipe of similar diameter, developed by engineers from the [[Iraq Petroleum Company]] and the [[Burmah Oil Company]], known as ''HAMEL'' from the contraction of the two chief engineers, HA Hammick and BJ Ellis. It was discovered in testing that the HAMEL pipe was best used with final sections of HAIS pipe each end. Because of the rigidity of the HAMEL pipe, a special apparatus code-named ''The ConunDrum'' was developed ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/uk_d_day_inventions/html/6.stm Picture]).
The first prototypes were tested in May 1942 (across the [[River Medway]]), and in June in deep water across the [[Firth of Clyde]], before going into production. Because of capacity limitations in the UK, some HAIS pipeline was also manufactured in the [[United States]].
In June 1942 the Post Office cable ship Iris laid lengths of both Siemens’ and Henleys’ cable in the Clyde. Both pipelines were completely successful and the Pipeline Under the Ocean, PLUTO, was formally brought into the plans for the invasion of Europe. The project was deemed ‘strategically important, tactically adventurous, and, from the industrial point of view, strenuous’. The Clyde trials showed that it was necessary to maintain an internal pressure of about one hundred pounds per square inch in the pipeline at all times, even during manufacture. Also, existing cable ships were not large enough, nor were their loading and laying gear sufficiently powerful and robust. Consequently a number of merchant ships were converted to pipe-laying by stripping the interiors and building in large cylindrical steel tanks, fitting special hauling gear and suitable sheaves and guides. It was to Johnson and Phillips that the Petroleum Warfare Department turned for special gear to handle and lay the pipe.
As the pipe could not be bent to a smaller radius than five feet; a new haul-off drum of ten-feet diameter and fleeting ring, together with roller type bow and stern gear, were produced, and the final equipment fitted to {{HMS|Holdfast}}.
Full-scale production of the two-inch pipe was started on the 14th August 1942, and six weeks later, on the 30th October a thirty-mile length was loaded on board {{HMS|Holdfast}} under the command of Commander Treby-Heale OBE, RNR, which was to be used as a full-scale rehearsal of Operation PLUTO. This trial took place between 26th December and 30th December, the thirty-mile length being laid across the Bristol Channel, in very bad and rough weather, and the shore ends being connected up at Swansea and Ilfracombe. Those on board to monitor the test were Mr. Hartley (Anglo-Iranian Oil), Mr. Tombs (Anglo-Iranian Oil), Mr. Colby (Iraq Petroleum), Mr. Betson (Post Office), Commander Hardy (Admiralty) and Mr. Whitehead OBE (Johnson and Phillips), who had designed the pipe handling equipment.
The rehearsal was a success, so much so that a three-inch (76 mm) pipe rather than two was considered. This reduced the number of pipelines needed to pump the planned volume of petrol across the channel. This decision necessitated further alterations and additions to the pipeline handling gear. Two further ships were equipped with handling gear, these being {{HMS|Sancroft}} and {{HMS|Latimer}}, both of which could handle {{convert|100|mi|km}} of three-inch (76 mm) pipe weighing approximately 6,000 tons.
The pipeline across the [[Bristol Channel]] was used to supply parts of [[Devon]] and [[Cornwall]] for the next year, during which time RASC and RE army personnel were trained to petrol pumping equipment in readiness for the invasion of Europe.
Johnson and Phillips were asked to provide storage sites in the East India and Surrey Commercial Docks. These sites were obtained and equipped with tubular steel bridges with overhead hauling gear erected in such a position that the pipe could be taken from a ship’s tanks, placed on land, and then finally replaced in the hold of the pipe laying vessel. Because of enemy action it became necessary to build complete circular brick and concrete blast walls to give protection from high explosives. Further wharf accommodation was provided in No1 Berth, [[King George V Dock]] with Johnson and Phillips supplying equipment to handle and store seventy-mile lengths of three-inch (76 mm) pipe.
==Placement==
After full-scale testing of a 45 nautical mile (83 km) HAIS pipe between [[Swansea]] in [[Wales]] and [[Watermouth]] in [[North Devon]], the first line to France was laid on [[August 12]], [[1944]], over the 70 nautical miles (130 km) from the [[Isle of Wight]] through the English Channel to [[Cherbourg]]. A further HAIS pipe and two HAMELs followed. As the fighting moved closer to Germany, 17 other lines (11 HAIS and 6 HAMEL) were laid from [[Dungeness]] to [[Ambleteuse]] in the [[Pas-de-Calais]].
The ''PLUTO'' Pipelines were linked to pump stations on the English coast, housed in various inconspicuous buildings including cottages and garages. Though uninhabited, these were intended to cloak the real purpose of the buildings. In England, the ''PLUTO'' pipelines were supplied by a 1,000 mile (1,600 km) network of pipelines (constructed at night to prevent detection by [[aerial reconnaissance]]) to transport fuel from ports including [[Liverpool]] and [[Bristol]]. In Europe, the pipelines were extended as the troops moved forward and eventually reached as far as the [[Rhine]].
In January 1945, 300 long tons (300 Mg) of fuel was pumped to France per day, which increased tenfold to 3,000 long tons (3,000 Mg) per day in March, and eventually to 4,000 tons (almost 1,000,000 Imperial gallons) per day. In total, over 781 million litres (over 172 million imperial gallons) of [[gasoline]] had been pumped to the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] forces in Europe by [[Victory in Europe Day|VE day]], providing a critical supply of fuel until a more permanent arrangement was made, although the pipeline remained in operation for some time after.
Dumbo was the codename given to the pipeline that ran across [[Romney Marsh]] to [[Dungeness]] and then across the [[English Channel]] to France. The route of the pipeline can be traced in various places on Romney Marsh. Where the pipeline crossed water drainage ditches it ran above ground in a concrete case. Several of these can still be found.
Along with the [[Mulberry Harbour]]s that were constructed immediately after D-Day, Operation ''Pluto'' is considered one of history's greatest feats of [[military engineer]]ing. The pipelines are also the forerunners of all flexible pipes used in the development of offshore [[oil field]]s.
==In film==
In 1994 the [[Midland Bank]] (now part of [[HSBC]]) sponsored a black-and-white film which contained a remarkable amount of historical archive film showing the entire history and construction of the ''Pluto'' Project, the HAIS pipe and the Conundrum reels. It mentions the codewords ''Bambi'', ''Watson'', ''Dumbo Near'', ''Dumbo Far'' and other terminal names. It shows how the HAIS pipe was constructed and increased in diameter from about 2" to the later 3" operational size. When the landing site for the invasion was switched from Calais to Normandy, the pipeline needed to be increased from its original length to around {{convert|70|mi|km}}, and the film tells of how the American pipeline industry became involved in producing the extra amount of HAIS pipe.
The film can be seen in a small heritage museum at Shanklin Chine in the Isle of Wight, one of the ''Pluto'' terminals, where there are also a lot of other memorabilia, books and photographs. One of the original pumps used on the Isle of Wight is preserved in the Bembridge Heritage Centre.
A film entitled ''Operation Pluto'' produced by the former [[Ministry of Fuel and Power]] is held in the [[British Film Institute]] archives. This film was part of a loop of films that was shown at the East Carlton Park steel heritage centre in Northamptonshire for many years.
==See also==
* [[List of military operations]]
* [[Logistics]]
==Further reading==
* Sir Donald Banks, (1955). ''Flame of Britain''. Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
* (N/A) (2002). "PLUTO: Pipeline under the Ocean", In: ''[[After The Battle]]'', '''116''', pages 2 - 27. [[ISSN|ISSN 0306-154-X]].
* Taylor, W. Brian, (2004). "PLUTO - Pipeline under the Ocean", In: ''Archive: The Quarterly Journal for British Industrial and Transport History'', '''42''', pages 48 - 64. [[ISSN|ISSN 1352-7991]].
* Scott, J.D (1958). "An Essay in the History of Industry", Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
* Brooks, C. (1950). "History of, A Romance of Seventy-Five Years" Published privately.
==External links==
* [http://www.combinedops.com/pluto.htm#Pipe-Laying%20Operations. Pipe laying operations]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/uk_d_day_inventions/html/6.stm Picture of a pipe laying drum]
* [http://www.swanseaheritage.net/article/gat.asp?ARTICLE_ID=470 Section of PLUTO pipeline held by Swansea Museum]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/1945-06-04_Allies_Sieze_German_Loot_and_Criminals Universal Newsreel] containing footage on Operation Pluto at [[archive.org]]
{{Battle of Normandy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pluto}}
[[Category:Western European Campaign (1944-1945)]]
[[Category:Pipelines]]
[[Category:Petroleum]]
[[Category:Coastal construction]]
[[Category:Operation Overlord]]
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