{"id":29,"date":"2020-08-10T14:23:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T14:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ddaylepe.org.uk\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2022-12-05T14:13:21","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T14:13:21","slug":"pluto","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ddaylepe.org.uk\/index.php\/pluto\/","title":{"rendered":"PLUTO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pipe-Line Under The Ocean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This culminated in the PLUTO pipeline and fuel delivery system being acknowledged and recorded as a remarkable achievement \u201csecond only in daring to the artificial harbours\u201d but also as one of the \u201coutstanding engineering achievements of the Second World War\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been much debate on the true success, value, effectiveness and timeliness of Operation Pluto\u2019s fuel delivery capabilities that are described within many notable WW2 reference books and documents in public records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will provide the reader and researcher alike with more detailed information, such as that contained in Adrian Searle\u2019s excellent book \u201cPLUTO. Pipe-Line Under The Ocean\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Details of the book can be found under our Resources Tab<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pipeline Names<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There were 3 different Codenames given to pipelines ie, SOLO, BAMBI<\/strong> and DUMBO,<\/strong> (within the umbrella of the Disneyesque, Code Name PLUTO<\/strong>), each unique to the locations of their cross-Solent and cross-Channel pipeline systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOLO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> (Cables) and 2 HAMEL<\/strong> steel pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lepe end of these lines, was initially the only and therefore KEY<\/strong> location as the first UK mainland, hard connection between the internal English pipeline network and PLUTO<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These locations pumped fuel, sub-sea to the Cherbourg Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BAMBI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUMBO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsequent connection was made into the Northern European pipeline network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 HAIS<\/strong> (Cables) and 6 HAMEL<\/strong> steel pipes were laid in the DUMBO<\/strong> route<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pipeline Types<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is important to appreciate that there were also two distinctly different type of \u201cpipeline\u201d each with an acronym Code name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HAIS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It retained its description as the HAIS <\/strong>cable, in order to try and maintain secrecy as to its true purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HAIS <\/strong>acronym is made up from H<\/strong> (Clifford Hartley), A, I<\/strong> (Anglo Iranian) and S <\/strong>(Siemens)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following photos are of a recovered section of the PLUTO (HAIS) pipeline, which we feature in our static exhibition displays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They clearly show the identical method of construction used for large electric power cables, minus of course the copper core conductors<\/p>\n\n\n