Figure 1.--The Middle East at the time of World War II was just beginning to become a center of world oil production, both Iraq and Iran. Iraq was especially imortanbt because of the pipeline connection with the Mediterranean. The Iranian oil refineries at Abadan are just east of Basra. This was a major part of the German interest in the Bagdad to Berlin Railway project before World War I. At the time, much of this area was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Map source: John Broich.

The most efficient method of moving oil as we now know as a result of Russia' barbaric invasion of Ukraine is by pipeline. Now while rail and and sea was the primary methods of moving oil, there were some very important pipelines during the War, all controlled by the Allies. One of these, the Kirkut Pipeline was very nearly seized by the Germans which could have had an incalculable impact on the War. This pipeline carried enough oil to have given the Germans the oil they needed to conduct the War. 【Broich】 Not only were the pipelines efficient, but they reduced the need fir shipping--a primary Allied concern throughout the War. We have information on several important pipelines. The ancient Chinese built the first pipelines. It was the Americans who built the first petroleum pipe lines in Pennsylvania (19th century). John D. Rockefeller unified these pipelines and became America'd first bllionaire. In World ar II, pipelines would become part of the Allied petroleum industry that played a huge role in the Allied victory.

Standard Oil Pipelines

The first pipelines were very short, desihned to getr crude oikl from the the oil fierld to the nearest ral head. Samuel Van Syckel built the first imoportant pipeline, a 2-inch iron pipe that carried his oil 5 miles from a new oil field and the nearest railroad station. Other drillers began building pipelines. John D. Rockefeller could,'t afford college, but took a sjort course in book keeping. Her began working as a bookeeper, but soon became adept at calculting calculating transportation costs of complex deals. He and partner went jnto business asnd chise thefledgling oit industry (1860s). They purchased a refinery. The cost efficiencies of transporting oil via pipeline lured Rockefeller. He correctly calculated tht if he owned enough pipelines, he could also dictate how much he could psy for the oil that went into his refineries. his would the start of huis great fortune. As America became the world's first oil giant and petroleum becanme an increasinhlyb imortant fuel, espcually Henry Ford developed the Model T Tin Lizzy (1908).

Kirkuk Pipeline

Oil was a major part of the German interest in the Bagdad to Berlin Railway project before World War I. At the time, much of this area was controlled by the Ottoman Empire which had ruled for cenurues as part of Arab Mesopotamia. After the Ottoman Empire entered the War (1914), the British invaded Mesopotamia and after an initial setback, seized it. The League of Nations granted Britain mandatory powers. The Anglo-Iraqi Treaty was a step toward independence (1930). It provided for a 'close alliance' with Britain. Iraq granted the British the use of air bases near Basra and at Habbaniyah and the right to move troops across the country. Britain terminated its Iraqi mandate, making Iraq independent after only 17 years of British mandatory rule (1932). Britain withdrew most of its forces, but continued to exercise considerable influence. The Kirkuk pipeline was built by the Iraq Petroleum Company (1932-34). The pipeline carried oil from the Baba Gurgur, Kirkuk oilfield to two terrminls on the Mediterannean coast where it could be moved by tanker tn markets in Europe. The area the pipeline originated Iraq. It then branched out. There were two trminals. One leg ran through Syria and Lebanon (under a French mandate) to the Mediterranean port of Tripoli in French Lebasnon. The other leg ran throuugh Trans Jordan to Haita in British Mandatory Palestine. The Hasifa leg was targeted by Arabs during the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine, a kind of Arab Kristallnacht. A joint British-Jewish Special Night Squads commanded by Cpt. Orde Wingate was formed to protect the pipeline. Windgate would become famous in Burma during the War. Later after World War II, the pipelone would be the target of attacks by the Jewish Irgun resistabce force. The pipeline and the Haifa refineries were seen as strategically important by the British Government, especially with NAZI Germany rearming. The pipeline as well as Iraq was nearly seized by the Germans (1941). The Iraqi Army was pro-German. The Iraqi Army Coup staged by the Golden Square gained control of Iraq and invited the NAZIs in (April 1941). They thought that the NAZIs would let them contol of the country's oil resource. The hard-pressed British were had few forces to spare to prevent this. The Germans began sending in advisers and military assistance through Vichy controlled Syria. The British were aware of what was happening as a result of Ultra trascripts. Prime-Minister Churchill ordered Wavell to intercede. Wavell hesitated because his forces were fully committed, but understood how vital the oil was. The very limited British forces in Iraq managed tomhold their ground against the much larger Iraqi Army. And just in time Auchinleck arrived with Indian Army units. This action was small in World War II terms, but the conequences were immense. During the War, the Kirkuk Pipeline and the Iraqi oilfields would provide mst of the fuel for the British in the Mediterranean theater, both the Eighth Army and the Royal Navy.

The Big and Little Inch

The United States built two petroleum pipelines from the Texas ouil fieklds abd refineries during World War II. The Big Inch carried crude oil from East Texas oilfields. The Little Big Inch carried refined refined products: gasoline, heating oil, diesel oil, and kerosene. This made the oil and products impervuius to U-boat attacks on thnkrs. It also saved on shipping, a seriious problem for the Allies throughout the War. The pipelines carried 0.5 million basrrels of oil and petroleum oprodyct daily. ASnd as it was over land, it was all safe from prowling German U-boats. This was the longest petroleum pipeline ever undertaken ast the time.

PLUTO

D-Day planners knew gthat getting fuel to the Normasndy Beachhead would be a problem. The Germand would defend asbd then destroy all the ports. The forces lasnded wouls need vast quantities of fuel to begin the liberration of Europe. They also understood that supporing the beach head by tanker would be a lborious process. In addition the tsnkets woykld be prioriry Luftwaffe attacks. They decided on secret project to construct an underwater pipeline--–Operation Pipe Line Under The Ocean (PLUTO) New undersea pipeline technologies had been developed. The American and British pipeline undustry had laid thousands of pipe miles across varied terrain. Crossing the English Channel required deverloping new technologies. Not onmly was the Channel deep, but the nearest French port was at a considerble distance. Uncertain of success, two duifferent approaches were adopted, both in great secrecy. The first PLUTO system used a inovative new kind of pipe that had the appearnce nore of an underwater communications cable than an petroleum pipeline. It took advasntage of already develooed undersea cable technology, but rsther thas encloding a bundle of wires, it ebclosed a three-inch flexible lead pipe. It would rin frim the Isle of Wight to Cherbuorg. .The sdecond PLUTO would prove more successful. It involved three-inch steel pipe, which was proving gto be both flexible and durable in pipelines oilfields in Iraq and Burma. The steel pipe was able to ne wrapped around giant drums. It ran from Dungeness to Bouloge.

Burma Pipeline

Sources

Broich, John. Blood, Oil, and the Axis.

Created: 2:16 AM 10/18/2008
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