EAW002338 ENGLAND (1946). Tilbury Docks, Tilbury, 1946

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Nearby Images (25)

EAW002338
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Details

Title [EAW002338] Tilbury Docks, Tilbury, 1946
Reference EAW002338
Date 5-September-1946
Link
Place name TILBURY
Parish
District
Country ENGLAND
Easting / Northing 563364, 176006
Longitude / Latitude 0.35177634712123, 51.458935088082
National Grid Reference TQ634760

Pins

Operation PLUTO (pipeline under the ocean) This was the site chosen to construct the pipelines to carry the petrol needed to support the invasion of Europe in 1944. The pipe 3"diameter bore was manufactured by Stewarts & Lloyd of Corby,and transported in 30 foot lengths by rail to a holding area and unloaded by an overhead mono-rail system. The tubes then were welded together,each weld cleaned and dressed into a 4000 foot length weighing 14 tons.These lengths were then welded together and wound onto a drum (conundrum)to be towed by a ship ,the pipe payed out and laid in a single length across the English channel.The pipe on the conundrum totalled eighty miles and weighed 1600 tons.In all some twenty pipes of this type were laid,one nearly to Berlin

boltie
Sunday 17th of August 2014 06:05:26 PM
Here another video of the Lead pipes being made at the WT Glover Cable Works in Manchester,these were transferred to waiting cable ships berthed in the Manchester Ship Canal via an overhead pulley and gantry system. https://archive.org/details/1945-06-04_Allies_Sieze_German_Loot_and_Criminals skip to the 3 minute mark for just the pipeline stuff.

boltie
Sunday 17th of August 2014 06:03:26 PM
This is a shot of the WT Glover cable works at Old Trafford, This shows the distance between the works and the Ship Canal, where the finished pipe was coiled into the laying ships hold in 4000 ton lengths http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw041635?search=glover%20cable%20works&ref=7

boltie
Sunday 17th of August 2014 02:36:15 PM
for an excellent account of all operations,manufacture and recovery of the PLUTO pipelines see http://www.combinedops.com/pluto.htm

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 09:20:09 PM
For a video of the entire process, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N1UHU3z44U

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:49:22 PM
Conundrum assembly area and slipways

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:47:31 PM
Conundrum winding jetty

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:46:22 PM
Conundrum Winding jetty

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:45:35 PM

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:43:57 PM
"B" final welding plant

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:43:20 PM
Snubber house,used to keep a tension on the pipe as it was coiled on the conundrum

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:42:25 PM
"A"plant final welding station where the 4000 foot pipes were joined together

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:41:06 PM
This stillage was an improvement on the first as it was less troublesome

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:39:22 PM
The 3/4 mile long roller rack and storage stillage for the pipes

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:37:58 PM
"B" plant,built to supplement supply and also capable of making seven continuous pipes

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:35:44 PM
"A"Welding Plant,this one built first and capable of making seven pipes at he same time.

boltie
Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:33:57 PM

User Comment Contributions

Details provided of the PLUTO assembly facilities within Tilbury Docks

Kentishman
Friday 14th of August 2015 12:00:35 PM
Here is a small account of the massive operation known as PLUTO.

Pipeline Under The Ocean.Spearheaded by lord Louis Mountbatten,this was the answer to the question "how to fuel the 500 000 vehicles"

involved in the D Day landings of 1944.click the pins and there are various videos and snippets of information to give the whole story.

enjoy

boltie
Tuesday 9th of September 2014 12:52:40 AM