each slot and on its underside the intermediate plate has pins 30 engaging the track slots 27 two pins engaging each slot to maintain alignment low friction strips 31 and 32 may be provided between the mounting plate and the intermediate plate 28 and between the intermediate plate 28 and the tracked plate 23 respectively the u2018 female u2019 stab plate i e the stab plate 2 holding the female couplers 4 is moved into engagement with the male plate 1 by for example a hydraulic ram not shown as the ram nears the male plate a docking guide 7 on the stab plate 1 engages the top of a guide post 10 mounted on the stab plate the guide post 10 is pushed downwards by further motion of the ram until a similar pin 10 on the opposite side of the plate 2 engages its respective docking guide 7 this action has brought the two plates substantially parallel further motion of the ram causes the posts 10 to move the stab plate assembly along the tracks 21 and 27 so that the posts 10 are aligned with the capture bores 8 further motion of the ram motion the couplings now in correct alignment to be fully made up after.