It wasn’t that long ago that Submariner trainee, Able Seaman Marine Technician (ABMT) Winston Gavriel, could be found with a saw, hammer and nails in his hands.Now you will find him at the depths of the sea, patrolling the coastline on board one of Australia’s Collins Class submarines.
Before joining the Navy in 2009, ABMT Gavriel was a carpenter in a Brisbane suburb of West End. He joined as a direct entry submariner and has completed his Marine Technician trade at HMAS Cerberus in 2010.
Since then he has been a submariner trainee, has completed his initial Collins Class submarine course and joined HMAS Dechaineux in April 2012.
“I am posted to Fleet Base West south of Perth. It’s along way from home in West End. But at the same time I am excited about qualifying by the end of the year and I am looking forward to deploying with HMAS Dechaineux.”
HMAS Dechaineux is the fourth of six Collins Class Submarines. Dechaineux was launched in Adelaide in 1998 and is named after CAPT Emile Dechaineux, the Commanding Officer of HMAS Australia (II) during the latter stages of World War II.
Since commissioning, HMAS Dechaineux has successfully conducted a range of activities throughout the region in support of Australian Defence Force.
