A bypass cable assembly that protects bypass fibers from one end of a hydrophone
assembly to the other, avoiding subjecting the fiber to excessive tow-induced drag
loading or the loading incurred during handling of the module. The bypass cable
assembly comprises an elastic woven fiber cable with a jacketed optical fiber attached
to one side of the cable in a sinusoidal pattern. The cable is attached to a woven
fiber protection assembly proximate at each end of the hydrophone assembly. Along
a central portion of the cable, the cable transitions to be substantially parallel
to the module central axis and is disposed alongside the hydrophone assembly. Elongation
of the cable causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting
damaging stress to the optical fiber. The elastic woven fiber cable is periodically
attached along the central portion of the cable to positioning tape of an internal
strength member.