A connector comprising: a shell having a mating end configured to be mated with a mating connector , the shell holding at least one contact ; and a coupling mechanism rotatable about the shell , the coupling mechanism comprising an inner coupling nut and an outer coupling nut separate from the inner coupling nut , the inner coupling nut having threads configured to be threadably coupled to the mating connector , the outer coupling nut being configured to be locked to the inner coupling nut to transfer rotation of the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut , the outer coupling nut being configured to be unlocked from the inner coupling nut to allow free rotation of the outer coupling nut relative to the inner coupling nut , the outer coupling nut being automatically unlocked when the connector is fully mated to the mating connector , wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a plunger movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plunger locking the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut in the locked position, the outer coupling nut being unlocked from the inner coupling nut in the unlocked position, and wherein the plunger includes keys received in corresponding channels in the outer coupling nut to lock the rotational position of the plunger relative to the outer coupling nut , the plunger being moved axially rearward relative to the outer coupling nut as the coupling mechanism is tightened onto the mating connector until the keys are removed from the channels into a circumferential groove , the outer coupling nut being unlocked from the inner coupling nut when the keys are in the circumferential groove . a shell having a mating end configured to be mated with a mating connector , the shell holding at least one contact ; and a coupling mechanism rotatable about the shell , the coupling mechanism comprising an inner coupling nut and an outer coupling nut separate from the inner coupling nut , the inner coupling nut having threads configured to be threadably coupled to the mating connector , the outer coupling nut being configured to be locked to the inner coupling nut to transfer rotation of the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut , the outer coupling nut being configured to be unlocked from the inner coupling nut to allow free rotation of the outer coupling nut relative to the inner coupling nut , the outer coupling nut being automatically unlocked when the connector is fully mated to the mating connector , wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a plunger movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the plunger locking the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut in the locked position, the outer coupling nut being unlocked from the inner coupling nut in the unlocked position, and wherein the plunger includes keys received in corresponding channels in the outer coupling nut to lock the rotational position of the plunger relative to the outer coupling nut , the plunger being moved axially rearward relative to the outer coupling nut as the coupling mechanism is tightened onto the mating connector until the keys are removed from the channels into a circumferential groove , the outer coupling nut being unlocked from the inner coupling nut when the keys are in the circumferential groove . <EOS>