The first major undersea stainless steel pipeline was built during World War II. Nicknamed Operation PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean), this stainless steel pipeline stretched 70 miles across the English Channel, connecting the Isle of Wight with the coast of France. The construction required 46 tons of building materials per mile. Operation PLUTO was intended to provide a safe way to transport fuel to Allied tankers. To keep the stainless steel pipeline secret, pumping stations along the route were disguised as garages and other inconspicuous buildings.
