Ruggedized female fiber optic connector cable assembly

An assembly adapted to couple to a ruggedized male fiber optic connector, the assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic cable including a jacket enclosing an optical fiber and at least one strength member;
• a ruggedized female fiber optic connector coupled to an end of the fiber optic cable, the ruggedized female fiber optic connector comprising:
• a connector body having a length that extends along a central axis between a first end and an opposite second end, the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable entering the connector body through the first end of the connector body, the strength member of the fiber optic cable being anchored to the connector body at the first end of the connector body, the second end of the connector body defining a connector port for receiving the ruggedized male fiber optic connector, the connector body including means adjacent the second end of the connector body for interlocking with a twist-to-lock coupler of the ruggedized male fiber optic connector;
• a ferrule alignment sleeve co-axially aligned along the central axis, the ferrule alignment sleeve including first and second opposite ends spaced apart along the central axis, the first end of the ferrule alignment sleeve facing toward the first end of the connector body and the second end of the ferrule alignment sleeve facing toward the second end of the connector body, the second end of the ferrule alignment sleeve being accessible through the connector port;
• an alignment sleeve housing containing the ferrule alignment sleeve, the alignment sleeve housing being axially fixed within the connector body;
• a ferrule assembly including a ferrule, the ferrule being received within the first end of the ferrule alignment sleeve, the ferrule being axially fixed relative to the alignment sleeve housing;
• and
• a section of optical fiber supported within a longitudinal fiber passage of the ferrule, the section of optical fiber having an interface end positioned adjacent a free end of the ferrule, the section of optical fiber being optically coupled to the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable.