#DDay70 P.L.U.T.O - Pipeline Under The Ocean

Cross Section Of  P.L.U.T.O Pipeline

P.L.U.T.O - Pipeline Under the Ocean. Assuming that the Normandy invasion was successful, and the Allies had gained a foothold on French soil then logistical problems would arise. As well as food, ammunition spares and medical supplies, fuel was vital for the Allied advance inland. Due to the problems of transporting fuel via ship, (the Allies did not plan to capture any harbours) they did not want to clutter up the landing grounds with fuel tanker. So, arose an ingenious solution, to lay a pipeline from England to France across the English Channel.

Planning for P.L.U.T.O began in 1942, and eventual production and testing encountered many problems, such as kinking, twisting, collapse due to water pressure and other factors. 

 Each mile of pipe used 24 tons of lead, 7.5 tons of steel tape and 15  tons of steel armour wire and smaller amounts of lighter materials. The external diameter of the pipe was 4.5 inches.Combined Ops Website

Route Of P.L.U.T.O Pipeline

In all about 500 miles of pipeline were laid in an average laying time over the 30 mile stretch of about 5 hours. In January 1945 the system delivered a disappointing 300 tons but by March this had increased to 3000 tons and later still to 4000 tons. This amounted to over 1,000,000 gallons per day giving a total of 172,000,000 gallons delivered in total up to the end of hostilities. During the operation to lay the cables an HQ ship, several cable ships, tugs, trawlers and barges were employed on this specialised work - a total of 34 vessels with 600 men and officers under Captain J.F.Hutchings.Combined Ops Website

Most of the work to manufacture the pipeline was completed in Britain, but due to the volume needed the U.S helped, making a total of 140 tonnes of pipeline out of a total of over 700. D-Day saw much ingenuity, PLUTO was a great idea.

P.L.U.T.O Pumping Stations in 2009.