---
title: Aviation
slug: aviation
board: "8×11 (Aerodrome board)"
players: "2"
parent: lattaque
win: "Land a Troop Carrier on the opponent's Aerodrome. Draw if both sides lose all Troop Carriers."
special: "Hidden-information aerial warfare game by H.P. Gibson & Sons. 42 pieces per player: 32 numbered flying units plus 10 unnumbered Auxiliaries (Searchlights, Observation Balloons, Anti-Aircraft Guns). The Searchlight + Gun ranging system is unique: Searchlights reveal hidden pieces and enable AAA Guns to engage at range. Troop Carriers move only diagonally; are driven back (not removed) when attacked by a piece of value 5 or higher; win by reaching the opponent's Aerodrome."
published: true
engine:
  topology:
    type: grid
    rows: 11
    cols: 8
  render:
    cellSize: 34
    zones:
      fill: floor
      cells:
        - type: aerodrome
          at: [[0,3],[0,4],[10,3],[10,4]]
    ops:
      - op: rect
        fill: transparent
        scope: board
      - op: cells
        pattern: cellMap
        light: cell-light
        dark: cell-dark
        defaultFill: floor
        zones:
          cells:
            - type: aerodrome
              at: [[0,3],[0,4],[10,3],[10,4]]
        typeColors:
          floor: floor
          aerodrome: aerodrome
        typeStrokes:
          floor: floor-stroke
          aerodrome: aerodrome-stroke
  surface:
    colors:
      floor: "#8fa8bf"
      floor-stroke: "#6b8aa5"
      aerodrome: "#d4a843"
      aerodrome-stroke: "#a07c20"
  players: [blue, red]
---

## Aviation

{{svg:aviation-board.svg "Aviation — starting position"}}

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).