Pipe-Line Under The Ocean
The concept, engineering design, manufacture, underwater installation and operation of the various pipeline systems, with their complex pumping arrangements, were all elements in OPERATION PLUTO.
This culminated in the PLUTO pipeline and fuel delivery system being acknowledged and recorded as a remarkable achievement “second only in daring to the artificial harbours” but also as one of the “outstanding engineering achievements of the Second World War”.
There has been much debate on the true success, value, effectiveness and timeliness of Operation Pluto’s fuel delivery capabilities that are described within many notable WW2 reference books and documents in public records.
This will provide the reader and researcher alike with more detailed information, such as that contained in Adrian Searle’s excellent book “PLUTO. Pipe-Line Under The Ocean”
Details of the book can be found under our Resources Tab
Pipeline Names
There were 3 different Codenames given to pipelines ie, SOLO, BAMBI and DUMBO, (within the umbrella of the Disneyesque, Code Name PLUTO), each unique to the locations of their cross-Solent and cross-Channel pipeline systems.
SOLO
The pipelines laid between Lepe (situated on the North shore of the Western Solent) and Thorness Bay, (on the North Western shore of the Isle of Wight), opposite Lepe and comprised, 2 HAIS (Cables) and 2 HAMEL steel pipes.
The Lepe end of these lines, was initially the only and therefore KEY location as the first UK mainland, hard connection between the internal English pipeline network and PLUTO.
The Thorness Bay end, of these lines, was connected via manifolds, to a buried pipeline system laid across the Isle of Wight, to the purpose built and extremely well disguised and camouflaged terminal and main booster pumping stations at Sandown & Shanklin Chine.
These locations pumped fuel, sub-sea to the Cherbourg Peninsula.
BAMBI
The pipelines laid between the South East Corner of the Isle of Wight and the Cherbourg Penisula, for subsequent connection into the European pipeline network.
DUMBO
The terminal and pipeline system, laid between Dungeness in Kent, South East England, to Boulogne in France, (The shortest possible route between England and mainland Europe)
Subsequent connection was made into the Northern European pipeline network.
11 HAIS (Cables) and 6 HAMEL steel pipes were laid in the DUMBO route
Pipeline Types
It is important to appreciate that there were also two distinctly different type of “pipeline” each with an acronym Code name.
HAIS
Although this is generally referred to by its function as a pipe, it is in every respect constructed in the manner of a electricity power cable.
The exception is that there are no copper conductors at the centre, thus leaving a hollow, but strongly constructed and reinforced tube, designed to withstand both internal and external pressures.
It retained its description as the HAIS cable, in order to try and maintain secrecy as to its true purpose.
The HAIS acronym is made up from H (Clifford Hartley), A, I (Anglo Iranian) and S (Siemens)
The following photos are of a recovered section of the PLUTO (HAIS) pipeline, which we feature in our static exhibition displays.
They clearly show the identical method of construction used for large electric power cables, minus of course the copper core conductors
HAMEL
This is a true “pipe” constructed from lengths of steel pipe welded together to form a pipeline of almost indeterminate length.
Delivery of HAMEL pipeline was achieved by winding the pipe onto gigantic floating cone ended drums.
These drums, Code named Conundrums, were to be towed cross channel, by ocean going tugs.
The drums would revolve at the same rate as forward speed, thus enabling the pipeline to be unwound and laid on the bed of the English Channel.
The HAMEL acronym is made up from HAM (H A Hammick Chief Engineer Iraq Petroleum) and EL (B.J Ellis,Burma Oil Chief Engineer)
This photo shows a pump under construction at the Hayward Tyler factory. It will be a key element in the PLUTO fuel supply system, supporting the Allied forces of Operation Overlord on the Continent.
The photo appeared in “Luton at War” published by “Luton News” in 1946.
