Site of Second World War, P.L.U.T.O. Line Construction & Assembly Site, Tilbury Main Dock (EHER 10261)

World War II PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) line construction and assembly site for delivering fuel to the allied army after D-Day to solve the problem of delivering massive quantities of fuel to the Allied army after D-Day was solved by the development of an underwater pipeline which was laid from the Isle-of-Wight to Cherbourg three weeks after 6th June 1944. Constructed during 1944 but had been destroyed by the time of the Defence of Britain survey.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. The problem of delivering massive quantities of fuel to the Allied army after D-Day was solved by the development of an underwater pipeline which was laid from the Isle-of-Wight to Cherbourg three weeks after 6th June 1944. In all, 16 lines were laid to France, each up to 70 miles long. The complete length of 3" diameter pipe, encased in lead, steel wire and rubber was wound onto a huge drum which was towed behind a ship unreeling the pipe as it crossed the Channel. Tilbury Dock was a P.L.U.T.O. (Pipeline Under The Ocean) assembly site and the drums, known as Conuns, were designed and constructed there. <1> <2> An aerial photograph taken in 1946 shows two assembly lines. <3> The complete redevelopment of the docks has left nothing remaining. It was constructed during 1944 but had been destroyed by the time of the Defence of Britain survey. <4> An oblique aerial photograph taken in October 1943 shows a Conundrum at the end of the P.L.U.T.O. construction line, in Tilbury Main Dock. A vertical photograph taken on 4 August 1944 shows two Conundrums, one at the end of each of the construction lines, in Tilbury Main Dock. <5> <6> Additional reference <7>