RIMPAC 2008

HMAS TOBRUK

Commander Brett Wolski, RAN

Commander Brett Wolski joined the RAN in 1986 as a Supplementary List officer. He underwent the typical postings for a Seaman Officer under training and was awarded the Bridge watchkeeping Certificate in HMAS BRISBANE in 1989. A 12-month posting to HMAS STUART as an Officer of the Watch immediately followed. Wolski completed the Air Intercept Controller Course at RAAF WILLIAMTOWN in January 1991 and joined HMAS PERTH for eighteen months as the Air Intercept Controller and Officer of the Watch. During this period PERTH deployed to Greece and Crete for the 50th anniversary of the fall of Crete during WWII. He was then posted to RAAF WILLIAMTOWN as AIC Instructor and subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in 1993. He completed the PWO course in December 1995 and joined HMAS CANBERRA as the Direction Officer and Operations Officer. Wolski was selected to instruct gunnery as a member of the PWO Directing Staff in July 1997 and he remained in this posting until joining HMAS BRISBANE as the Gunnery Officer and Operations Officer in August 1999. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in January 2000. In August 2000 Wolski was posted to the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters in Brisbane as the RAN Liaison Officer.

Wolski was loaned overseas in January 2002 to fulfil the role of RAN Liaison Officer COMFIFTHFLT based in Bahrain. Subsequent to this, he attended the Executive Officer course and joined HMAS MANOORA as the Executive Officer in July 2002. MANOORA conducted First of Class Flight Trials, several amphibious exercises and deployments to Operation FALCONER and ANODE during his tenure. Promoted to Commander in January 2004, CMDR Wolski has undertaken the duties of Deputy Director Navy Establishments (2004-2005) and Director Navy Workforce Planning (2005-2006) at Navy Headquarters. CMDR Wolski was selected as Commanding Officer HMAS TOBRUK and took command in January 2007.

TOBRUK gives the Australian Defence Force an amphibious heavy lift capability. The ship is a multi -purpose troop and roll-on/roll-off, heavy vehicle carrier built by Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd at Tomago, near Newcastle , NSW. The design includes facilities for bow and stern loading, beaching, a drive-through capacity and inter-deck transfers via ramps.

TOBRUK can transport 18 Leopard tanks, 40 Armoured Personnel Carriers or 40 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles. The Vehicle Deck has been reinforced to enable the transportation of two Landing Craft Mechanical-8 (LCM-8) on specially designed cradles. In addition, two Landing Craft Vehicular Personnel units (LCVP) are secured by davits on either side of the superstructure. The ship's roll-on/roll-off function is supplemented by 2 x 8.5 tonne capacity Favco cranes and a Velle derrick capable of lifting up to 70 tonnes. The amphibious role is enhanced by forward and aft helicopter decks, which can be operated simultaneously. Helicopters can also be refuelled on both decks.