Subminiature fiber optic submarine cable and method of making

A subminiature fiber optic submarine cable uses a single layer of stainless steel wires around the optical fiber buffer of a single optical fiber in order to protect the fiber. A polymer adhesive filler material is used to bond the wires to the outside of the optical fiber buffer, whereas an ultraviolet curable polymer portion is disposed around the wires. The filler material used to fill the gaps between the wires and the optical fiber buffer is the same material as used for the outer polymer portion. The method of making the cable includes the application of adhesive filler material to an optical fiber buffer with a catalyst and helically winding stainless steel wires around the buffer. The structure is then passed through a coating cup which coats the wires with an outer polymer portion of ultraviolet curable material. Ultraviolet lamps then are used to cure the outer polymer portion.