seem simple to the officers—he hoped to ensure that when the officers left his training course that they would do so with self-assurance and confidence in their newfound knowledge.
(below) An extension of the Derby House run by wren Mary Charlotte Poole, the first woman to take the tactical course led by Roberts. This giant deck simulator was built to teach evasive maneuvers for torpedo attacks.
20
Covert Tactics
Their Commander-in-Chief, Noble, had much praise for the wrens; Drake, Howes, Laidlaw, Wales, and six junior ratings including Okell had become invaluably skilled at conducting the games, providing knowledgeable advice, and creating new counterstrategies and tactics with Roberts. Experienced officers often balked at the idea of taking advice from young women, some not even out of school, who had never been out to sea. But as they played through each game and saw the confidence and respect the wrens provided when making suggestions, as well as seeing that these suggestions were flawless to such a degree, they eventually respected the wrens in turn and were in awe of their skill. Roberts had long believed that carefully designed games could make experts of amateurs, and both the skill of the wrens and the officers who completed their training became his proof. The course continued
