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Product

Armoured electromechanical & optical tow cableMIL-DTL-2464340–320 kN MBLUp to 6,000 m

Armoured Underwater Tow CableTorque-balanced double GIPS steel wire armoured sonar, CTD & geophysical tow cable

Double contra-helically armoured electromechanical and electro-optical tow cable engineered for side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profilers, CTD rosettes, magnetometers and deep-tow sleds to 6,000 m depth, with 40–320 kN breaking strength.

Water-resistant
Anti-torsion braid
EMC screen
Oil-resistant
Order designation
AUTC-7C16-0450
Nominal OD
11.43 mm
Weight in sea
392 kg/km
Safe working load
27 kN
Breaking load
108 kN
All sizes (13)
Request a quoteDatasheetWhatsApp
Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum
Core types
Coax / TSP / FO
50/75 Ω coax, star-quads & FIMT optics
Design depth
Up to 6,000 m
Full ocean depth oceanographic rating
Breaking load
40–320 kN
Double contra-helical GIPS steel wire
Rated voltage
0.6/1–3.0 kV
DC/AC towfish power & telemetry feed
Min. bend R
20 × OD
Over oceanographic A-frame & tow sheave
Torsion
≤ ±1.5°/m
Non-rotating under deep-tow tension

Typical values for this cable type, based on MIL-DTL-24643 / ISO 13628-5 / IEC 60228 — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is Armoured Underwater Tow Cable right for your machine?

Built for high-tension oblique towing and vertical profiling where the cable serves simultaneously as mechanical tow hawser and telemetry link.

Trailing & towing

Suitable

High submerged weight and small diameter reduce tow catenary scope and keep deep-tow sonar fish at target altitude.

Vertical / spreader reel

Suitable

Torque-balanced contra-helical GIPS armour prevents spin and hockling during vertical CTD rosette casts to 6,000 m.

Immersion & wet locations

Suitable

Void-filled elastomeric matrix blocks axial seawater migration at pressures up to 60 MPa.

Offshore platform & shipboard deck trays

Suitable

Galvanised plow-steel wire armour resists stern-chock and sheave abrasion; optional HDPE/PUR jacket available.

Energy chain / drag chain

Not suitable

High-tensile steel-armoured tow cable is not suitable for short-radius factory drag chains.

Use M12 Ethernet Assembly
Typical machinesSide-Scan & Synthetic Aperture SonarOceanographic CTD & Rosette ProfilingSub-Bottom & Magnetometer TowNaval Towed Acoustic ArraysDeep-Sea Mineral Survey

Construction

Layer by layer

Representative 11.43 mm (0.450 in) electro-optical tow cable: central 316L FIMT + 3 power/telemetry conductors + Hytrel bedding + double GIPS armour.

123456
Schematic, not to scale — generated from the layer data
#LayerMaterial & reference
1Coaxial / power-telemetry coreStranded tinned copper centre conductor (50/75 Ω coax or 3–7 conductors, 0.75–4.0 mm²) + optional central 316L FIMTSupports long-haul DSL/coax sonar telemetry or gigabit optical multiplexers
2Low-loss high-pressure dielectricSolid high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) core insulationMaintains stable capacitance and impedance at 60 MPa hydrostatic pressure
3Coaxial shield / pair screenServed or braided tinned copper shield (≥ 95 % optical coverage) + Al/PET tape on signal quadsProvides low-resistance return path and high-frequency EMI immunity
4Pressure-compensated beddingVoid-filling polyisobutylene compound + extruded thermoplastic elastomer (Hytrel) or HDPE beltCushions telemetry cores against radial pinch loads from outer armour wires
5Inner helical steel wire armourFirst layer of galvanised extra-improved plow steel (GIPS) wires preformed to zero-residual stressCarries primary axial tow tension
6Outer contra-helical steel armourOpposing-lay GIPS steel wire armour (optional extruded HDPE/PUR jacket on -JK variants)Balances torsional moment and protects against seabed rock abrasion

AUTC-EM (Electromechanical Coax / Multicore)

Industry-standard 0.255″ (6.5 mm) to 0.680″ (17.27 mm) coax and 4/7-conductor sonar & CTD cables

AUTC-EO (Electro-Optical UNOLS 0.680″)

3 power conductors + 3 single-mode fibres in laser-welded 316L FIMT for deep-tow sleds and ROVs

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on MIL-DTL-24643 / ISO 13628-5 / IEC 60228. Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

Operating voltage
600 V – 3,000 V DC/AC rms
Coaxial impedance
50 ± 3 Ω or 75 ± 3 Ω (coax variants)
Insulation resistance
≥ 5,000 MΩ·km at 20 °C
DC loop resistance
6.2 to 42 Ω/km (configuration dependent)
AC dielectric test
3.0 kV – 7.5 kV AC for 5 min

Thermal

Subsea operating temperature
−10 °C to +60 °C
Winch deck operation
−35 °C to +75 °C
Max. core temperature
+80 °C (PE) / +90 °C (XLPE/PP)

Mechanical

Design water depth
6,000 m (60 MPa hydrostatic)
Min. breaking load (MBL)
38 kN (6.5 mm OD) to 320 kN (22.4 mm OD)
Safe working load (SWL)
10 kN to 80 kN
Min. bend radius (under load)
20 × OD over A-frame sheave
Min. bend radius (no load)
12 × OD
Torque balance
≤ ±1.5°/m up to 50 % MBL

Resistance

Water blocking
100 % void-filled core & armour interstices
Corrosion resistance
Heavy Class A galvanised GIPS + corrosion inhibitor
Seabed rock abrasion
Preformed high-carbon plow steel outer wires
Hydrocarbon & hydraulic oil
IEC 60811-404 resistant

Reference standards

Military / marine spec
MIL-DTL-24643 / ISO 13628-5
Oceanographic pool standard
UNOLS Appendix A/B (0.322″ & 0.680″ compatible)
Optical fibre standard
ITU-T G.652.D / IEC 60794-3

Identification

Exterior finish
Bright galvanised GIPS wire (or black HDPE/PUR jacket)
Core coding
IEC 60304 colour code + TIA-598 optical fibres
Customs tariff (HS)
8544.49 / 8544.70

Sizes

13 standard electromechanical & electro-optical tow cable sizes

Includes industry-standard oceanographic diameters (0.255″, 0.322″, 0.450″, 0.680″) and metric multicores.

Dimensions, weights & breaking loads
Order designationInternal Core ConstructionRated V
V		Nominal OD
mm		Weight in air
kg/km		Weight in sea
kg/km		SWL
kN		MBL
kN		Min. sheave R
mm		Enquiry
Electromechanical Coaxial & Multicore Tow Cables
AUTC-1CX-02551 × Coax (0.255″ CTD / Magnetometer)6006.48158126938130
AUTC-1CX-03221 × 50 Ω Coax (0.322″ UNOLS CTD)10008.182552041456164
AUTC-4C18-03224 × 1.0 mm² (18 AWG Star-Quad)10008.202622081455164
AUTC-1CX4C-03751 × 75 Ω Coax + 4 × 1.0 mm² (Side-Scan)10009.533502781976191
AUTC-7C16-04507 × 1.5 mm² (Side-Scan / Sub-Bottom)100011.4349539227108229
AUTC-1CX6C-04501 × 50 Ω Coax + 6 × 1.5 mm²120011.4350540027110229
AUTC-12C16-05603 × 2.5 + 9 × 1.0 mm² (Deep Tow)150014.2278062042168284
Electro-Optical FIMT Deep-Tow Cables
AUTC-EO-3C3FO-03943 × 1.5 mm² + 3 SM Fibres in FIMT150010.003953152288200
AUTC-EO-3C6FO-04503 × 2.5 mm² + 6 SM Fibres in FIMT200011.4351541028112229
AUTC-EO-3C6FO-05603 × 4.0 mm² + 6 SM/MM Fibres in FIMT250014.2279063044175284
AUTC-EO-3C3FO-06803 × 6.0 mm² + 3 SM Fibres (0.680″ UNOLS)300017.271,17594560240345
AUTC-EO-3C6FO-0680-JK3 × 6.0 mm² + 6FO + HDPE Outer Jacket300019.801,26596560240396
AUTC-EO-3C12FO-08803 × 10 mm² + 3×2×0.75 + 12FO Heavy Tow300022.401,8901,51080320448
  • Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
  • AUTC-1CX-0322 (8.18 mm) and AUTC-EO-3C3FO-0680 (17.27 mm) match standard UNOLS oceanographic winch groove shells.

Quality & approvals

Testing & inspection

Routine tests on every production length, sample and type tests per batch — documented on an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate.

  1. ConductorClass 5 stranding
  2. Spark test100 % in-line
  3. Lay-upCores, earth, fillers
  4. SheathingInner, braid / screen, outer
  5. Electrical testsAC voltage, resistance
  6. DimensionsOD, wall thickness
  7. Inspection documents & dispatchDrum & dispatch
Testing & inspectionTest value / referenceFrequency
Routine tests
DC conductor resistance & HV dielectric test3.0–7.5 kV AC for 5 min + IEC 60228 resistance check100 % of manufactured length
TDR coaxial impedance & OTDR optical trace50/75 Ω impedance uniformity & 1310/1550 nm optical lossEvery continuous drum length
Sample tests
Tensile break, elongation & torque-rotation testVerify MBL and ≤ ±1.5°/m rotation under loadQualification & lot sample
60 MPa hydrostatic pressure test24 h pressure hold with live insulation resistance & OTDR monitoringType approval

Inspection certificate

Issued with every drum, listing the routine test results for that length.

Product approvals

MIL-DTL-24643 / ISO 13628-5 Tow ConstructionUNOLS 0.322″ & 0.680″ Winch Shell Compatible

Company certificates

ISO 9001ISO 14001ISO 45001VDE marks approvalUL / cULCE · LVD / EMC

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

TEBAOFLEX AUTC ARMOURED UNDERWATER TOW CABLE [PART] [MBL kN] [YEAR]
Delivery form
Heavy-duty steel oceanographic spooling reels
Continuous length
Up to 10,000 m splice-free continuous length
Termination hardware
Preformed helical grips, PMI/torpedo socket cones & wet-mate tails
Lead time
5–8 weeks ex-works

Technical documents

Downloads

PDFArmoured Underwater Tow Cable – technical datasheet13 sizes · construction, technical data, approvalsXLSXArmoured Underwater Tow Cable spec data (Excel)All 13 sizes with dimensions and data, for your BOM or quotation
Revision
2026-10-20
Updated
2026-10-20

FAQ

Questions engineers ask first

Not covered here? Send your drawing — an engineer replies within 2 business hours.

Why are double contra-helical GIPS armour layers left unjacketed on most oceanographic tow cables?
Leaving the galvanised extra-improved plow steel (GIPS) outer armour bare minimises overall cable diameter, which reduces hydrodynamic drag and allows the towfish to reach deeper tow altitudes with less paid-out cable. It also fits standard Lebus grooved winch shells.
How are AUTC-1CX-0322 and AUTC-EO-3C3FO-0680 matched to existing research vessel winches?
Their nominal outer diameters (8.18 mm / 0.322 in and 17.27 mm / 0.680 in), minimum bend radii, and breaking strengths match standard UNOLS oceanographic CTD and deep-tow traction winches without modifying level-wind gearing or sheave grooves.
How do you prevent armour wire corrosion during multi-month offshore survey cruises?
Each GIPS wire carries a heavy Class A zinc coating, and the inter-wire interstices are vacuum-flushed during armouring with a water-displacing corrosion-inhibiting compound. For permanent moorings or acidic waters, specify the -JK HDPE/PUR jacketed option.
What termination methods are recommended at the towfish end?
Either a poured resin socket cone (such as a torpedo termination) or a preformed helical wire grip with bend-restrictor boot can be used, transferring 95–100 % of the cable breaking load directly to the towfish bridle while leaving the electrical/optical core strain-free.

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