Abstract: A capstan and stowage reel assembly for arrays towed by submarines, the ambly comprising a capstan mounted for rotation about an axis, the capstan having a toothed annular wall and an annular external wall adapted to receive cable/array means thereon, a capstan toothed drive means engaged with the toothed wall to cause the rotation of the capstan, a combination winch/stowage reel mounted for rotation about the axis, the reel having first and second circular flanges adapted to receive the cable/array means therebetween, the first flange having a toothed portion, a reel toothed drive means engaged with the toothed flange to cause the rotation of the reel, and a guide conduit for guiding the cable/array means from the capstan onto the reel in cable/array retrieving operations and from the reel onto the capstan in cable/array means deployment.