Combined electrical and optical cable connector particularly suited for marine seismic sensor streamers

A connector for joining two cables, comprising:

• a housing element operatively coupled to an end of each cable to be joined;
• a connector insert assembly functionally coupled to an inner portion of each housing element using a biasing means, such that a contact force between corresponding connector assemblies when the housing elements are mated is substantially unrelated to a an axial force generated by coupling the housing elements;
• conductor terminals disposed in corresponding openings of each connector insert assembly, the terminals protruding from a face of the connector insert assembly, the terminals adapted to couple to and terminate conductors in each of the cables;
• an alignment sleeve holder coupled to one of the connector insert assemblies, the alignment sleeve holder including alignment sleeves therein for receiving the protruding terminals;
• and wherein
• the housing elements are adapted to sealingly couple to each other, the housing elements are adapted to urge the connector insert assemblies into contact with each other and to transfer axial load between the housing elements when the housing elements are coupled to each other, the housing elements have rotational and axial alignment features on corresponding surfaces thereof, and the housing elements are each adapted to be removed from the corresponding connector insert assembly without uncoupling the cable from the connector insert assembly.