Abstract: A wellhead connector assembly allows connection of a wellhead connector to a subsea wellhead without requiring hydraulic components to remain with the wellhead connector. The connector has latch dogs which are urged by an actuator ring into engagement with the wellhead body. Rods extend upwardly from the actuator ring. A running tool has hydraulic cylinders, each having a shaft for one of the rods. A latching device on each of the shafts latches the hydraulic cylinder shafts to the rods to move the rods up and down. The wellhead connector has a hold-down device which allows the hydraulic cylinders to move the rods downwardly, but prevents them from being moved upwardly. There is a release mechanism which can be used to release the hold-down device to allow the rods to be moved upwardly.