From what I remember the drogue and cable, about 1,500ft., was laid out in front of the aircraft on the runway. It could then roll that distance before it passed over the drogue leaving another 1,500 ft. before the drogue was snatched. By that time the aircraft was airborne and in a steep climb so the drogue would be pulled up from the runway minimising wear.
Release was a case of flying slowly beside the runway a dropping it on the grass.
The fins? I've got a feeling they were attached to the aircraft, not the tank.