Squad Leader Scenarios Explained

Squad Leader is a game system depicting tactical combat in the Second World War. The game and three additional gamettes are open-ended, a trend in tactical board wargaming beginning from the 1970s and most notably seen in Avalon Hill's highly successful PanzerBlitz. The use of geomorphic mapboards and counters representing small tactical units gave the game great flexibility and the potential to recreate a wide range of situations.

These situations are presented to players in the form of Scenarios. The original Squad Leader game comes with 12 scenarios and other scenarios, numbered in sequence, followed on in the three sequel gamettes. There are also many "official" scenarios (published by Avalon Hill) in The General Magazine or sold as special releases (the Rogue Scenarios).

In total, 123 official scenarios were made for the Squad Leader series.

Scenario Format

Each scenario in the original four game releases was printed on an 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock with the following elements in place:

Scenario Number

The original core scenarios from the 4 games are numbered as follows:

Squad Leader - 1 through 12

Cross of Iron - 13 through 20

Crescendo of Doom - 21 through 32

GI: Anvil of Victory - 33 through 47

Illustrative Graphic

These are illustration evocative of the events portrayed in the scenario, usually a black and white interpretation of an actual Second World War photograph. Rodger MacGowan did the artwork for the original SL, COI and COD scenarios and Charles Kibler took over with GI: Anvil of Victory.

Historical Overview

A paragraph description of the military situation, placing the scenario in context, possibly introducing the personalities portrayed on the map. Prefaced by the actual location (usually the nearest town or city) and date.

Board Configuration and Orientation

A graphic representation of which boards to use, how to orient them, which direction is "north" and placement of terrain overlays (if any).

Listing of Rules Sections Introduced

The four Squad Leader games use Programmed Instruction to teach the game system; each scenario included with the games listed the new rules sections introduced with that scenario.

Victory Conditions

Squad Leader scenarios use unique sets of victory conditions, in some instances being complicated. The Victory Conditions often model real military objectives. For example, a scenario about an assault on a village might specify occupying buildings as victory conditions. A scenario based on withdrawal might specify that a certain number of units have to be exited from the map in order to win.

Turn Record Chart

Fixed game turn limits govern each scenarios, and one side is required to set up first and/or move first. The turn record chart also shows turns on which reinforcements arrive.

Countermix and Historical Identity of Scenario Forces

Each official scenario is based on an actual historical event (with the exception of Scenario 26 which was based on a hypothetical operation). Historical names are provided for the forces of each side (sometimes broadly, as in "elements of the 62nd Army" and often specifically down to the company or platoon level.)

Counter-mixes are listed for both sides, with number of units being specified as well as where they are set up (or enter, if reinforcements).

Scenario Special Rules

Scenario Special Rules (or SSRs) provide flexibility to designers; helping recreate an historically accurate scenario. Rule modifications can achieve specific effects on game-play.

Historical Aftermath

A paragraph summary of the outcome of the situation being depicted.

Scenario Listing - Official Scenarios (Games and Gamettes)

GameNameAlliesAxisDateLocation
SL1The Guards Counterattack6 October 1942Stalingrad, USSR
SL2The Tractor Works6 October 1942Stalingrad, USSR
SL3The Streets of Stalingrad6 October 1942Stalingrad, USSR
SL4The Hedgehog of Piepsk14 November 1941Piepsk, USSR
SL5Hill 6211 July 1944near Minsk, USSR
SL6Escape From Velikiye Luki12 January 1943Velikiye Luki, USSR
SL7Buchholz Station16 December 1944Buchholz, Germany
SL8The Bitche Salient14 January 1945Bitche, Germany
SL9The Cannes Strongpoint23 August 1944Cannes, France
SL10Hitdorf on the Rhine6 April 1945Hitdorf, Germany
SL11The St. Goar Assault24 March 1945St Goar, Germany
SL12The Road to Wiltz17 December 1944Wiltz, Luxembourg
COI13The Capture of Balta3 August 1941Balta, Ukraine
COI14The Paw of the Tiger12 January 1943South of Leningrad, USSR
COI15Hube's Pocket6 April 1944near Buchach, USSR
COI16Sowchos 798 December 1942Chir River Line, Russia
COI17Debacle at Korosten30 August 1941Korosten, Ukraine
COI18The Defense of Luga19 July 1941Luga, USSR
COI19A Winter Melee17 February 1942Okorovo, Russia
COI20Breakout From Borisov2 July 1941Borosov, Russia
COD21Battle for the Warta Line6 September 1939Central Poland
COD22The Borders are Burning30 November 1939Kuhmo, Finland
COD23Silent Death9 December 1939Aittojoki, Finland
COD24Action at Balberkamp22 April 1940Balberkamp, Norway
COD25Resistance at Chabrehez10 May 1940Chabrehez, Belgium
COD26Assault on a Queen11 May 1940The Hague, Netherland
COD27The Dinant Bridgehead13 May 1940Houx, Belgium
COD28Counterstroke at Stonne15 May 1940Stonne, France
COD29In Rommel's Wake17 May 1940on the Meuse, France
COD30Ad Hoc at Beaurains21 May 1940Arras, France
COD31Chateau de Quesnoy6 June 1940Le Quesnoy, France
COD32Rehearsal for Crete26 April 1941Peloponnesus, Greece
GI33A Belated Christmas27 December 1944Bastogne, Belgium
GI34Climax at Nijmegen Bridge20 September 1944Nijmegen, Netherlands
GI35The French Decide to Fight10 November 1942Port-Lyautey, Morocco
GI36Weissenhof Crossroads16 December 1944Schnee Eifel, Germany
GI37Medal of Honor21 September 1944Nijmegen, Netherlands
GI38The Factory11 February 1944Aprilia Settlement, Italy
GI39Sweep For Bordj Toum Bridge10 December 1942Bordj Toum Station, Tunisia
GI40The Dornot Watermark10 September 1944Dornot, Germany
GI41Swatting at Tigers11 July 1943Biazzo Ridge, Italy
GI42Bridgehead on the Rhine24 March 1945Speldrop, Germany
GI43Action at Kommerscheidt4 November 1944Kommerscheidt, Germany
GI44Prelude to Breakout7 July 1944Vire et Taute Canal, France
GI45Hide and Seek7 June 1944Normandy, France
GI46Operation Varsity24 March 1945near Hamminkeln, Germany
GI47Encircling the Ruhr30 March 1945the Ruhr, Germany

Scenario Listing - Other Official Scenarios (Avalon Hill)

Series 100

Avalon Hill released Series 100, ten new scenarios for Cross of Iron, in 1979. The scenarios were designed by Courtney Allen (SL playtester and designer of Storm Over Arnhem).

TitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
101Blocking Action at Lipki3 July 1941near Borisov, USSR
102Slamming of the Door17 August 1941Panikovo forest, USSR
103Bald Hill11 September 1941Leningrad, USSR
104The Penetration of Rostov24 July 1942Rostov, USSR
105Night Battle at Noromatyevka1 January 1943Noromaryevka, USSR
106Beachhead at Ozereyka Bay4 February 1943Ozereyka valley, USSR
107Disaster On The Dneiper Loop24 September 1943Dnieper River, USSR
108Block Busting in Bokruisk29 June 1944Bokruisk, USSR
109Counterattack On The Vistula6 August 1944near Wola Chodkowska, Poland
110The Agony of Doom19 April 1945Muncheberg, Germany

Series 200

Avalon Hill released Series 200 with 10 new scenarios for Crescendo of Doom.

TitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
201Sacrifice Of Polish Armor1 September 1939Novy Targ region, Poland
202Under Cover Of Darkness12 September 1939Gdynia, Poland
203Bitter Defense At Otta28 April 1940Gudbrandsal valley, Norway
204Chance D'une Affaire14 May 1940Chehery, France
205Last Defense Line15 May 1940Bouvellemont, France
206Fighting At The World's Edge28 May 1940Tarladsvikfjell, Norway
207The French Perimeter2 June 1940Spyckar, France
208Road To Kozani Pass13 April 1941Komanos, Greece
209The Akroiri Peninsula Defense20 May 1941Profitilias, Crete
210Commando Raid At Dieppe18 August 1942Varengeville, France

Rogue Series 200

The Rogue Scenarios Series 200, named because they used boards 9, 10 and 11 which were not "official" boards at the time, utilized rules up to Crescendo of Doom. Some of the scenarios needed multiple copies of several boards; if one wanted to play Scenario R220, which combined Scenarios R218 and R219 into one large scenario played in three parts - foreshadowing campaign games in Historical ASL.

TitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
R211Auld Lang Syne1 January 1945Gerimont, France
R212On The Road To Andalsnes24 April 1940near Andalsnes, Norway
R213Traverse Right...FIRE!23 June 1941S of Bialystok, Poland
R214The Front In Flames22 August 1943S of Kharkov, USSR
R215Hasty Pudding27 May 1940near Dunkirk, France
R216A Small Town In Germany8 April 1945Friesoythe, Germany
R217The Whirlwind18 April 1945Aschaffenburg, Germany
R218Operation Switchback6 October 1944Scheldt estuary, Holland
R219Scheldt Fortress South25 October 1944Scheldt estuary, Holland
R220Clearing the Breskens Pocket6 October 1944Scheldt estuary, Holland
R221Vitality I24 October 1944South Beveland, Holland
R222Infatuate II1 November 1944Westkapelle, Walcheren Island, Holland
R223Night Drop6 June 1944Cherbourg Peninsula, France

Series 300

Avalon Hill released Series 300 with additional scenarios for GI: Anvil of Victory.

TitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
300Trial by Combat27 February 1945Elsdrof, Germany
301The Clearing10 October 1944Huertgen Forest, Germany
302Stand Fast10 December 1944Obergeich, Germany
303Thrust and Parry15 March 1945Pfaffenheck, Germany
304Riposte15 March 1945Pfaffenheck, Germany
305The Duel15 March 1945Pfaffenheck, Germany
306The Rag Tag Circus12 April 1945Barby on the Elbe, Germany
307Point D'Appui9 October 1944Bardebberg, Germany
308Han-Sur-Neid11 November 1944Han-sur-Neid, France
309The Roer Bridgehead23 February 1945Koerrenzig, Germany

The General Magazine

Over the years, Avalon Hill also released scenarios in issues of their The General Magazine.

IDTitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
15-6ABurzevo2 December 1941Burzevo, USSR
15-6BHill 253.59 July 1943North of Kursk, USSR
15-6CThe Burkin Bridgehead24 September 1943SE of Kiev, Ukraine
15-6DDelaying Action30 October 1944Western Lithuania
17-2EThe Niscemi-Biscari Highway10 July 1943Biscari, Sicily
17-2FThe Pouppeville Exit6 June 1944Normandy, France
17-2GDevil's Hill19 September 1944Kleve-Nijmegen, Holland
17-2HThe Attempt to Relieve Peiper21 December 1944the Ardennes, Belgium
17-2IHunters from the Sky24 March 1945Rhine River, Germany
18-2JSemper Paratus27 September 1944Oorderen, Holland
18-3KFast Heinz7 August 1944Roslayl, USSR
18-4LThe Long Road16 September 1942S of Andriba, Madagascar
18-5MThe Dead of Winter29 December 1941NW of Staritsa, Russia
19-5TS1First Crisis at Army Group North25 June 1941Daugav River, USSR
19-5TS2Pavlov's House20 October 1942Stalingrad, USSR
19-5TS3Land Leviathans3 July 1941Lipki, USSR
19-5TS4Soldiers of Destruction10 October 1944Radzymin, Poland
19-6NFaugh A'Ballagh!16 May 1944Sinagoga, Italy
20-21000Operation Marston14 July 1943Catania, Sicily
20-4OStrayer's Strays6 June 1944Normandy, France
20-6SSTK 1aDeath's Head at Lusho24 September 1941Lusho, USSR
20-6SSTK 1bDeath's Head at Lusho24 September 1941Lusho, USSR
21-2PAachen's Pall25 October 1944Aachen, Germany
21-3QGambit21 May 1941Maleme, Crete
21-42000Operation Hubertus11 November 1942Stalingrad, USSR
22-53000Assault on Round Top30 September 1944N of Riga, Latvia

ASL Annual

The final "official" scenarios issued by Avalon Hill for the original Squad Leader game were in the first two issues of the ASL Annual.

IssueTitleAlliesAxisDateLocation
ASL Annual '89A1On the Borderline30 November 1939Artahuhta, Finland
ASL Annual '89A2Sbeitla Probe17 February 1943Sbeitla, Tunisia
ASL Annual '89A3Regalbuto Ridge31 July 1943Regalbuto, Italy
ASL Annual '90A4King's Castle26 November 1944Frenzenberg, Germany
ASL Annual '90A5The Professionals7 April 1941Pirot, Yugoslavia
ASL Annual '90A6A Meeting of Patrols26 December 1944Hofen, Belgium
ASL Annual '92ACGCommando Campaign Game

All official Squad Leader scenarios printed by Avalon Hill have been reissued for Advanced Squad Leader and released in either The General Magazine, ASL Annuals or scenario packs. The ASL Journal had released seven scenarios for Squad Leader but Multi-Man Publishing has indicated no intention to support the original SL game system.

Scenario Listing - Non Official Scenarios

Wargamer Magazine

The Wargamer Magazine also released scenarios 81-90, and a pack with scenarios 91-100 in 1982. These were designed by many of the contributors and players who helped design "official" scenarios.

Scenario 81A Bridge Too Near
Scenario 82To Lose A Battle
Scenario 83The Final Attempt
Scenario 84Le Paradis
Scenario 85The Far Bank
Scenario 86Raid on Vaagso
Scenario 87The Bruneval Raid
Scenario 88The Backwater of War
Scenario 89Cherkasskoye
Scenario 90The Bridge at Kanev
Scenario 91Assault At Wadelincourt
Scenario 92Patton's End Run
Scenario 93Cassino Station
Scenario 94Hill 112
Scenario 95The Attempt To Exploit
Scenario 96Scratch Force
Scenario 97The Breaking Wave
Scenario 98Night Assault
Scenario 99Cooperative Venture
Scenario 100A Day At The Races

REFERENCES

The Australian Wargamer - Original Squad Leader scenarios

ASL Scenario Archive

ASL.Net

WARGAME ACADEMY; Resource for Historical Boardgaming Simulation - SQUAD LEADER ACADEMY SQL SERIES SCENARIO RESOURCES

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