A linear winch assembly comprising: a first gripper assembly comprising a first gripper block; a second gripper assembly comprising a second gripper block; wherein, in an operative position, the first and second gripper blocks are configured to grip and release a cable; the linear winch assembly comprises: a first mechanism operable to move the first gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the first gripper assembly and a second mechanism operable to move the second gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the second gripper assembly ; wherein the first mechanism is configured to move the first gripper block between the operative position in which the first gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the first gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position and the second mechanism is configured to move the second gripper block between the operative position in which the second gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the second gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position. a first gripper assembly comprising a first gripper block; a second gripper assembly comprising a second gripper block; wherein, in an operative position, the first and second gripper blocks are configured to grip and release a cable; the linear winch assembly comprises: a first mechanism operable to move the first gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the first gripper assembly and a second mechanism operable to move the second gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the second gripper assembly ; wherein the first mechanism is configured to move the first gripper block between the operative position in which the first gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the first gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position and the second mechanism is configured to move the second gripper block between the operative position in which the second gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the second gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position. a first mechanism operable to move the first gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the first gripper assembly and a second mechanism operable to move the second gripper block out of the pathway of a cable connector to allow the connector to pass through the second gripper assembly ; wherein the first mechanism is configured to move the first gripper block between the operative position in which the first gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the first gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position and the second mechanism is configured to move the second gripper block between the operative position in which the second gripper block is in the pathway of a cable connector and an inoperative position in which the second gripper block is not in the pathway of a cable connector and wherein the inoperative position is laterally, vertically and/or horizontally offset from the operative position. <EOS>