HMS Conundrum

{{Short description|Pipelaying drum, WW2}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

HMS Conundrum was the unofficial name given to the large drums used for laying the World War II Normandy landings PLUTO pipeline. [https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/operation-pluto-oil-gasoline-game.html Operation Pluto] The drums were cone-ended, hence the abbreviation CONUN and were used in the sea, hence subsequent ship HMS Conundrum nickname. They were 30 feet in diameter and weighed 250 tons.[http://www.combinedops.com/pluto.htm PLUTO - PIPELINE UNDER THE OCEAN][http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/PlutoPipeline.html Pluto and its whereabouts in Epsom][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/uk_d_day_inventions/html/6.stm Picture of a "HMS Conundrum"][http://www.iwbeacon.com/Pipeline-Under-the-Ocean.aspx Pipeline Under the Ocean]

Views of "HMS Conundrum" components

File:IWM-T-30-Conundrum-preparation.jpg|A Conundrum being moved into position into a specially constructed dock in preparation for the winding on of the pipe.

File:IWM-T-32-PLUTO-Conundrum.jpg|Pipe being wound onto a Conundrum, June 1944.

File:IWM-T-54-Conundrum-loaded.jpg|A Conundrum loaded with pipe, ready to be towed across the Channel.

File:IWM-T-29-PLUTO-Conundrum-at-sea.jpg|A Conundrum being towed across the English Channel laying out pipe behind it.