Aviation
Aviation — starting position
https://engine.moddable.games/play/?game=lattaque&variant=aviation
Published by H.P. Gibson & Sons Ltd., London. One of the four games in the Gibson hidden-rank warfare series (alongside L’Attaque, Dover Patrol, and Tri-Tactics). This description is sourced from the original H.P. Gibson Aviation rulebook (recovered from a 2004-digitised scan).
Board
8 columns (A–H) × 11 rows (1–11). The entire playing surface is the aerial theatre (no land/sea distinction for movement).
Each player has an Aerodrome — a 2-square area in the middle of their back rank. The Aerodrome is the victory capture point; a Troop Carrier landing here wins the game.
Aerodrome positions:
| Player | Aerodrome squares | Row |
|---|---|---|
| Player 1 | D1–E1 (cols 4–5, middle of row 1) | Row 1 (back rank) |
| Player 2 | D11–E11 (cols 4–5, middle of row 11) | Row 11 (back rank) |
Setup: Each player places their 42 pieces face-down on their nearest 5 rows (rows 1–5 for Player 1, rows 7–11 for Player 2). Row 6 is the neutral mid-board row.
Pieces (42 per player)
Fleet — 32 numbered flying units:
| Count | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.S.F. Squadron | 10 |
| 1 | S.S.F. Squadron | 9 |
| 1 | Bomber Squadron | 8 |
| 2 | Flight of T.S. Fighters | 7 |
| 2 | Flight of S.S. Fighters | 6 |
| 3 | Airships | 5 |
| 2 | Troop Carriers | 4½ |
| 3 | Twin-Seater Fighters | 4 |
| 3 | Single-Seater Fighters | 3 |
| 8 | Bombers | 2 |
| 6 | Reconnaissance Planes | 1 |
Auxiliaries — 10 unnumbered support pieces:
| Count | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Searchlights | Reveal hidden pieces; enable AAA Gun ranging |
| 3 | Observation Balloons | Stationary; spotting role |
| 2 | Anti-Aircraft Guns (3-mile range) | Engage pieces revealed by Searchlights |
| 1 | Anti-Aircraft Gun (4-mile range) | As above, extended range |
| 1 | Anti-Aircraft Gun (5-mile range) | As above, extended range |
Total per player: 42 pieces.
Troop Carrier Special Rules
- Troop Carriers move only diagonally (one square diagonal per move).
- When attacked by a piece of value 5 or higher (Airship, Flight of S.S. Fighters, Flight of T.S. Fighters, Bomber Squadron, S.S.F. Squadron, T.S.F. Squadron): Troop Carrier is driven back one square (not removed). If driven back onto own Aerodrome, it remains there.
- When attacked by a piece of value below 5: normal combat rules apply.
- Win condition: move a Troop Carrier onto the opponent’s Aerodrome square.
- If both sides lose all Troop Carriers: draw.
Searchlight and Anti-Aircraft Gun System
The Searchlight + AAA Gun ranging system is unique to Aviation:
- A Searchlight may illuminate an area around it, revealing the identity of hidden enemy pieces within a defined radius.
- An Anti-Aircraft Gun can engage enemy pieces that have been revealed by a Searchlight, at range up to the Gun’s rated distance (3-mile, 4-mile, or 5-mile).
- Observation Balloons are stationary support pieces; they assist spotting but cannot move.
- AAA Guns auto-defeat any piece moving adjacent to them except for Bombers (which destroy the Gun instead).
Movement
- One square per turn: orthogonal (forwards, backwards, sideways). Never diagonally — except Troop Carriers which move diagonally only.
- Pieces stand face-down throughout; hidden from opponent until revealed by combat or Searchlight.
Combat
- Attack declared when moving adjacent to an enemy piece. Both reveal; higher value wins; equal values: both removed.
- Troop Carrier exception: driven back rather than removed when attacked by value 5+.
- Airships can attack Troop Carriers in their own Aerodrome.
Attribution
Aviation. Published by H.P. Gibson & Sons Ltd., London. Part of the Gibson hidden-rank warfare series alongside L’Attaque, Dover Patrol, and Tri-Tactics. Also included as the air component of Tri-Tactics (revised edition uses “Battle of Britain” theme with different piece names). Public domain rule set. Source: original H.P. Gibson Aviation rulebook (scanned from physical copy, 2004 digitisation).