PLUTO, Secret Pipelines of WW II
Towed “Conundrums” spooled off steel pipe across the English Channel soon after D-Day.
To provide vital oil across the English Channel after the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings, secret pipelines were unwound from massive spools to reach French ports.
Wartime planners knew that following the D-Day invasion Allied forces would need vast quantities of petroleum to continue the advance into Europe.
Allied leadership also knew that petroleum tankers trying to reach French ports would be vulnerable to Luftwaffe attacks. A secret plan looked to using new undersea pipeline technologies. (more…)