diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
index dcf731b71b..acbd44c17d 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
@@ -351,12 +351,6 @@ public:
         //- Number of currently defined communicators
         static label nComms() noexcept { return parentComm_.size(); }
 
-        //- True if communicator appears to be user-allocated
-        static bool isUserComm(const label communicator) noexcept
-        {
-            return (communicator > worldComm && communicator > selfComm);
-        }
-
         //- Debugging: print the communication tree
         static void printCommTree(const label communicator);
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/OFstreamCollator.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/OFstreamCollator.C
index 93eba9c1cf..3f4621f540 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/OFstreamCollator.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/OFstreamCollator.C
@@ -335,10 +335,7 @@ Foam::OFstreamCollator::~OFstreamCollator()
         thread_.reset(nullptr);
     }
 
-    if (threadComm_ != -1)
-    {
-        UPstream::freeCommunicator(threadComm_);
-    }
+    UPstream::freeCommunicator(threadComm_);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.C
index e12779bf69..3ed78ec339 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017-2018 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::collatedFileOperation
         ),
         false
     ),
-    managedComm_(comm_),
+    managedComm_(getManagedComm(comm_)),  // Possibly locally allocated
     writer_(mag(maxThreadFileBufferSize), comm_),
     nProcs_(Pstream::nProcs()),
     ioRanks_(ioRanks())
@@ -300,7 +300,6 @@ Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::collatedFileOperation
 (
     const label comm,
     const labelList& ioRanks,
-    const word& typeName,
     bool verbose
 )
 :
@@ -314,6 +313,13 @@ Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::collatedFileOperation
 }
 
 
+void Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::storeComm() const
+{
+    // From externally -> locally managed
+    managedComm_ = getManagedComm(comm_);
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::~collatedFileOperation()
@@ -321,10 +327,7 @@ Foam::fileOperations::collatedFileOperation::~collatedFileOperation()
     // Wait for any outstanding file operations
     flush();
 
-    if (UPstream::isUserComm(managedComm_))
-    {
-        UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
-    }
+    UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.H
index fdfd59c2c4..836a105e21 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/collatedFileOperation.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2021 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ SourceFiles
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-#ifndef fileOperations_collatedFileOperation_H
-#define fileOperations_collatedFileOperation_H
+#ifndef Foam_fileOperations_collatedFileOperation_H
+#define Foam_fileOperations_collatedFileOperation_H
 
 #include "masterUncollatedFileOperation.H"
 #include "OFstreamCollator.H"
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class collatedFileOperation
     // Private Data
 
         //- Communicator allocated/managed by us
-        label managedComm_;
+        mutable label managedComm_;
 
 
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ class collatedFileOperation
         //- Any initialisation steps after constructing
         void init(bool verbose);
 
+
 protected:
 
     // Protected Data
@@ -129,15 +130,14 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Default construct
-        explicit collatedFileOperation(bool verbose);
+        explicit collatedFileOperation(bool verbose = false);
 
         //- Construct from user communicator
         collatedFileOperation
         (
             const label comm,
             const labelList& ioRanks,
-            const word& typeName,
-            bool verbose
+            bool verbose = false
         );
 
 
@@ -147,6 +147,11 @@ public:
 
     // Member Functions
 
+        //- Transfer ownership of communicator to this fileOperation.
+        //- Use with caution
+        virtual void storeComm() const;
+
+
         // (reg)IOobject functionality
 
             //- Generate disk file name for object. Opposite of filePath.
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.C
index f86e2c6ca3..223e54e0df 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017-2018 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2021-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2021-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -144,26 +144,29 @@ Foam::fileOperations::hostCollatedFileOperation::hostCollatedFileOperation
         UPstream::allocateCommunicator
         (
             UPstream::worldComm,
-            subRanks(Pstream::nProcs())
+            subRanks(UPstream::nProcs())
         ),
-        (Pstream::parRun() ? labelList() : ioRanks()), // processor dirs
-        typeName,
-        false // verbose
+        (UPstream::parRun() ? labelList() : ioRanks()), // processor dirs
+        false  // verbose
     ),
-    managedComm_(comm_)
+    managedComm_(getManagedComm(comm_))  // Possibly locally allocated
 {
     init(verbose);
 }
 
 
+void Foam::fileOperations::hostCollatedFileOperation::storeComm() const
+{
+    // From externally -> locally managed
+    managedComm_ = getManagedComm(comm_);
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileOperations::hostCollatedFileOperation::~hostCollatedFileOperation()
 {
-    if (UPstream::isUserComm(managedComm_))
-    {
-        UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
-    }
+    UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.H
index 859d2705a1..333b3e0773 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/collatedFileOperation/hostCollatedFileOperation.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017-2018 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2021-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2021-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ SourceFiles
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-#ifndef fileOperations_hostCollatedFileOperation_H
-#define fileOperations_hostCollatedFileOperation_H
+#ifndef Foam_fileOperations_hostCollatedFileOperation_H
+#define Foam_fileOperations_hostCollatedFileOperation_H
 
 #include "collatedFileOperation.H"
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class hostCollatedFileOperation
     // Private Data
 
         //- Communicator allocated/managed by us
-        label managedComm_;
+        mutable label managedComm_;
 
 
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -100,11 +100,18 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Default construct
-        explicit hostCollatedFileOperation(const bool verbose);
+        explicit hostCollatedFileOperation(bool verbose = false);
 
 
     //- Destructor
     virtual ~hostCollatedFileOperation();
+
+
+    // Member Functions
+
+        //- Transfer ownership of communicator to this fileOperation.
+        //- Use with caution
+        virtual void storeComm() const;
 };
 
 
@@ -112,6 +119,7 @@ public:
             Class hostCollatedFileOperationInitialise Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
+//! Internal class only
 class hostCollatedFileOperationInitialise
 :
     public collatedFileOperationInitialise
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.C
index a69acf2514..25b35e3922 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017-2018 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ bool Foam::fileOperation::uniformFile(const fileNameList& names)
 
 bool Foam::fileOperation::uniformFile(const label comm, const fileName& name)
 {
-    if (!Pstream::parRun())
+    if (!UPstream::parRun())
     {
         return true;
     }
@@ -1494,4 +1494,22 @@ Foam::label Foam::fileOperation::detectProcessorPath(const fileName& fName)
 }
 
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Friend Operators * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<
+(
+    Ostream& os,
+    const InfoProxy<fileOperation>& iproxy
+)
+{
+    const auto& fp = *iproxy;
+
+    os  << "fileHandler:" << fp.type()
+        // << " nProcs:" << fp.nProcs()
+        << " comm:" << fp.comm()
+        << " distributed:" << fp.distributed() << nl;
+
+    return os;
+}
+
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.H
index a62ad6644c..21b8d0e843 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/fileOperation/fileOperation.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -43,12 +43,14 @@ Description
 
 #include "ISstream.H"
 #include "Ostream.H"
+#include "UPstream.H"
 #include "fileMonitor.H"
 #include "fileNameList.H"
 #include "instantList.H"
 #include "refPtr.H"
 #include "Enum.H"
 #include "Tuple2.H"
+#include "InfoProxy.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -56,11 +58,14 @@ namespace Foam
 {
 
 // Forward Declarations
-class IOobject;
-class regIOobject;
+class fileOperation;
 class objectRegistry;
+class regIOobject;
+class IOobject;
 class Time;
 
+Ostream& operator<<(Ostream& os, const InfoProxy<fileOperation>& info);
+
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                          Class fileOperation Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -160,6 +165,22 @@ protected:
         //- Is either a directory (empty name()) or a file
         bool exists(IOobject& io) const;
 
+        //- Construction helper: check for locally allocated communicator
+        static inline label getManagedComm(const label communicator)
+        {
+            return
+            (
+                (
+                    communicator < 0
+                 || communicator == UPstream::globalComm
+                 || communicator == UPstream::selfComm
+                 || communicator == UPstream::worldComm
+                )
+              ? -1
+              : communicator
+            );
+        }
+
 
 public:
 
@@ -329,9 +350,18 @@ public:
             return old;
         }
 
+        //- Return info proxy,
+        //- used to print information to a stream
+        InfoProxy<fileOperation> info() const noexcept { return *this; }
+
 
     // Member Functions
 
+        //- Transfer ownership of communicator to this fileOperation.
+        //- Use with caution
+        virtual void storeComm() const = 0;
+
+
         // OSSpecific equivalents
 
             //- Make directory
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.C
index de391d0b0c..d73b453c96 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.C
@@ -740,10 +740,10 @@ masterUncollatedFileOperation
         UPstream::allocateCommunicator
         (
             UPstream::worldComm,
-            subRanks(Pstream::nProcs())
+            subRanks(UPstream::nProcs())
         )
     ),
-    managedComm_(comm_)
+    managedComm_(getManagedComm(comm_))  // Possibly locally allocated
 {
     init(verbose);
 }
@@ -763,15 +763,19 @@ masterUncollatedFileOperation
 }
 
 
+void Foam::fileOperations::masterUncollatedFileOperation::storeComm() const
+{
+    // From externally -> locally managed
+    managedComm_ = getManagedComm(comm_);
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileOperations::masterUncollatedFileOperation::
 ~masterUncollatedFileOperation()
 {
-    if (UPstream::isUserComm(managedComm_))
-    {
-        UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
-    }
+    UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.H
index 225102ab4d..0b4848488e 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/masterUncollatedFileOperation/masterUncollatedFileOperation.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class masterUncollatedFileOperation
     // Private Data
 
         //- Communicator allocated/managed by us
-        label managedComm_;
+        mutable label managedComm_;
 
 
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class masterUncollatedFileOperation
         //- Any initialisation steps after constructing
         void init(bool verbose);
 
+
 protected:
 
     // Protected Data
@@ -491,7 +492,7 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Default construct
-        explicit masterUncollatedFileOperation(bool verbose);
+        explicit masterUncollatedFileOperation(bool verbose = false);
 
         //- Construct from communicator
         masterUncollatedFileOperation(const label comm, bool verbose);
@@ -503,6 +504,11 @@ public:
 
     // Member Functions
 
+        //- Transfer ownership of communicator to this fileOperation.
+        //- Use with caution
+        virtual void storeComm() const;
+
+
         // OSSpecific equivalents
 
             //- Make directory
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.C
index 8acc5692ad..0988f3b251 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -194,20 +194,24 @@ Foam::fileOperations::uncollatedFileOperation::uncollatedFileOperation
 )
 :
     fileOperation(UPstream::worldComm),
-    managedComm_(-1)  // worldComm is externally managed
+    managedComm_(-1)  // Externally managed
 {
     init(verbose);
 }
 
 
+void Foam::fileOperations::uncollatedFileOperation::storeComm() const
+{
+    // From externally -> locally managed
+    managedComm_ = getManagedComm(comm_);
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileOperations::uncollatedFileOperation::~uncollatedFileOperation()
 {
-    if (UPstream::isUserComm(managedComm_))
-    {
-        UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
-    }
+    UPstream::freeCommunicator(managedComm_);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.H
index d81c54d86d..a58d60a58d 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/fileOperations/uncollatedFileOperation/uncollatedFileOperation.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class uncollatedFileOperation
     // Private Data
 
         //- Communicator allocated/managed by us
-        label managedComm_;
+        mutable label managedComm_;
 
 
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Default construct
-        explicit uncollatedFileOperation(bool verbose);
+        explicit uncollatedFileOperation(bool verbose = false);
 
 
     //- Destructor
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ public:
 
     // Member Functions
 
+        //- Transfer ownership of communicator to this fileOperation.
+        //- Use with caution
+        virtual void storeComm() const;
+
+
         // OSSpecific equivalents
 
             //- Make directory