Method and apparatus for fast deploying and retrieving of towed bodies

Apparatus for deploying a device from a moving object utilizing a towing cable, comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted on the moving object for storing the device to be deployed therefrom;
• a cable bailer mechanism mounted within the housing for paying out the cable, said bailer mechanism including a spool containing the cable, an outer rotatable bailer tube, a helix shaft rotatably mounted within the bailer tube and coupled to the spool for imparting reciprocating movement to said spool in response to the cable being unwound from the spool as the bailer tube rotates when the device is deployed from the housing;
• a control shaft independently rotatably mounted within the helix shaft and operationally coupled thereto;
• and
• a brake mechanism including a DC motor operatively engageable with the control shaft for retarding rotation of said control shaft and the deployment of the towing cable and the deployed object.