PLUTO – Pipe Line Under The Ocean

PLUTO was in preparation since 1942 when the Allied Forces realised they would need to invade and cross German-occupied France to attack Berlin. 60% of the supplies needed by the land army was fuel. A series of pipes were laid from the UK, across the Channel, to France to supply the army with the fuel they needed. The first pipeline was called Bambi and left from the Isle of Wight to Cherbourgh. The second line was called Dumbo and came through Lydd and left the country at Dungeness. There are bungalows on the seafront today that were pumping stations disguised as homes for the use of the pipe in 1944. The pipes were used, and continued to be laid on the French side as the troops progressed across France after D Day. Because they were so small (only 3 inches in diameter) they could only supply 8-10% of the fuel needs.