World War II - The Massive Secret Hidden Underwater

In the months leading to D-day, many high-ranking German officers, like the renowned Erwin Rommel, scoffed at the seemingly preposterous notion of an Allied landing in Europe. The thought, some believed, was mere fantasy.

This was not entirely without reason. The challenges the Allies faced were monumental. Even bolstered by the might and industry of the United States, their task seemed nothing short of Herculean. They would need to mobilize an army of unparalleled proportions, accompanied by a flotilla of amphibious vessels unheard of in scale.

Even if they succeeded in this, a far greater test awaited them. They would be up against the formidable German Atlantic Wall, an impenetrable fortress bristling with artillery and manned by well-prepared and on-guard soldiers.

And should they miraculously gain a foothold on the hallowed sands of France, the logistics of supplying such a vast army and fueling thousands of tanks across the choppy waters of the English Channel was a problem that would require a solution nothing short of divine intervention.

Yet, with this knowledge, the Allies began preparing. They started working towards creating their own miracle, Operation PLUTO. Britain would have to take on the challenge of constructing massive submarine oil lines under the English Channel in a daring and unprecedented effort.

The structure was to be their lifeline, their answer to the supply problem, supporting Operation Overlord. These pipelines were to pump millions of gallons of oil, the black blood that would fuel the Allies' relentless advance toward the liberation of Europe.

There was, however, a catch. One challenge that made this extraordinary task even more dangerous. The Allies had to lay the pipelines in utmost secrecy, ensuring the Germans remained utterly oblivious to their plans...

[wdwtx.]

To paraphrase an old saying: Any fool can raise an army. Feeding/arming/supplying them is another story.
Logistics is the underappreciated winner of wars.
The unsung heroes.

[mariericart]

This is the most detailed documentary regarding Project Pluto that I have viewed!

[JessWLStuart]

What's that they say? "Amateurs debate tactics, but professionals debate logistics!" So good to hear about the heroic efforts to keep the allied war machine supplied.

[JHS]

Prior to the outbreak of the war...about 1936 or 37...Britain laid a network of underground pipelines to all major airfields. This meant no fleets of trucks carrying fuel to those same airfields... This was one of the major contributors to winning the Battle of Britain. These pipelines are still in use today fuelling airports. There is one that crosses a field less than a 1500m from my home.

[marktinkler]

My father participated in Operation Overlord as a commander of a LST delivering tanks and jeeps to the Normandy beaches. Funny note: My mother (an Army nurse during WW2) called him a "90 day wonder" because the Navy sent him to Annapolis for a 90 day crash course on how to operate a LST before throwing him in to action. The Navy created the position and rank of Commander especially for this operation😮

[rholmst]

Three brothers enlisted (Army) after Pearl Harbor. Two went up the ‘boot’ (Italy). The oldest was an archetype G.I. complete with cigar and gruff exterior, the youngest was a clerk (but mad skills with a rifle), and the third, middle child, was on the ‘beach’ (Normandy) day three, and drove supply trucks in what became known as “the Red Ball Express” (he came home with a German officer’s Lugar, but never talked about how). Their parents ran a boarding house, and they had a younger sister who was too young for the war effort.

A skinny boy convinced his sister (his guardian after their parents died) to sign the papers to allow him to join the Navy at age 17. After basic he was sent to the Pacific theater (Guam), joining the build up for the push to Japan. Everyone knew what was coming, and everyone knew what it meant. But then, suddenly, his orders came - First to Hawaii, then San Francisco, then discharge and home! He found himself staying at a boarding house, where he met a young woman…

All three brothers, my uncles, and my father, that skinny kid, came home safe. All have passed now, but they all raised successful, and grateful, families.

[JohnJ]

Amazing to think of all this forward planning and development 2 years before the D-Day landings.

[MeduseldRabbit]

Just because it didn't transport a significant percentage of fuel compared to other means, does not mean it was a failure. Contingency plans are never a waste of effort, because if the fuel tankers had not been successful, the pipeline could have ended up being the only option left.

[mikehindson-evans]

Excellent historical document - nice to learn more of the background to PLUTO.

[billotto]

I'd never heard about this & I fancy myself as a knowledgeable WW2 amateur historian. This is incredible !

[barbaradavis]

This is a really interesting piece of history. The only time I had heard mention of fuel supplies was with respect to the Battle of the Bulge and keeping the German army from raiding Allied fuel depots. Written history often leaves out "small" facts that are actually vital. Thanks.

[marklelohe]

Excellent history presentation and video. My father in law was an MP guarding some of the PLUTO shore pumping stations during WW2.

[keithcarter]

A brilliant program, I never heard of this before. well researched and presented thanks for uploading.

[billshiff]

The "Jerry Can" story is worth a video of it's own.

[RonGreeneComedian]

It was my pleasure to talk with several veterans of the war prior to their death. One man in particular was part of the D-Day invasion. He was to go ashore on day one, but they're landing craft, a huge barge, had mechanical problems. He went in on day two. From watching movies, we assume that at the end of the first day the allies just rolled on into France. The beaches were not considered secure until day 12. In the movie the longest day, there is a scene where German pilots strafe the beaches. My friend said the name given to one pilot in particular was Bedcheck Charlie. Upon learning the scope of the invasion, Rommel is quoted, "Give me that army (or with that army like that) and I could be in Berlin in 30 days." God bless them all.

[FloozieOne]

I fell into your channel yesterday and got trapped. I've been binge watching your episodes, but so far at least, this one was the most interesting with the one on spies and intrigue coming in a close second. Thank you so much for teaching me about fantastic things I had no idea ever existed.

[ComeonmenIDT]

interesting i never knew about those pipelines, learned something today

[chuckliebenauer]

The biggest factor in the invasion of Europe was logistics. No bullets, no gas, no tanks, no war! The German’s greatest weakness was the lack of focus on logistics. The best example of this was the battle of the Bulge. Their need to capture the gas stockpiles was a perfect sign of this weakness. Without logistics the Allies couldn’t win. A lot of planning and behind the scenes went into the Allied Victory both in Europe and the Pacific.

[roybrumo]

The pipeline went to the Isle of Wight across the Solent from Lepe beach in Hampshire it then crossed the island to shanklin The fuel came from the oil refinery at Fawley Southhampton
If you look on Google maps at Lepe there is the remains where they built 6 Mulberry Casion’s but also a photo I took of the Pluto pipe line sticking out from the small cliff, obviously the erosion of the cliff has exposed this and where they cut it when they recovered the metals used.

[nicholasgreenway]

The AI narrator is actually really good until it encounters …twenty one-ist century… but these are excellent documentaries