Squad Leader Scenarios

Squad Leader was notable for its open-endedness, a trend common to tactical wargames by their very nature and subject matter. The use of geomorphic mapboards and counters representing small tactical sub-units gave the game great flexibility and the ability to represent a wide array of units and situations.

These situations were formulated in the form of stand-alone Scenarios. The basic game came with 12 of these scenarios pre-made, and "official" scenarios, numbered in sequence, followed on in the three "gamettes". There were also many "official" scenarios (that is to say, scenarios published by Avalon Hill) in The General Magazine or sold as special releases (such as the so-called Rogue Scenarios).

Scenario Format

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

• Scenario number
• Illustrative graphic
• Historical overview
• Board configuration and orientation
• Listing of rules sections introduced
• Victory Conditions
• Turn Record Chart
• Countermix and historical identity of scenario forces
• Scenario Special Rules
• Variations
• Historical Aftermath

Scenario Number

The "official" scenarios were 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 were simply an illustration evocative of the events portrayed in the scenario, usually a black and white artist's 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 short one-paragraph description of the overall military situation, placing the scenario in context, possibly introducing one or two of the personalities portrayed on the map. Prefaced by the actual location (usually the nearest town or city) and date of the action.

Board Configuration and Orientation

A graphic representation of which boards to use (or which portions of boards), how to orient them to each other, which direction was considered "north" (important for outlining setup, entry and exit areas), and placement of terrain overlays (if any).

Listing of Rules Sections Introduced

The four basic games used Programmed Instruction to teach the game system; each official scenario released directly with the games listed the rules sections introduced with each scenario.

Victory Conditions

Squad Leader used very imaginative sets of victory conditions, some of which were often quite complicated. Conditions were set under which each player might consider the game to have been won, or in some cases, conditions which would indicate the scenario had been played to a draw. The Victory Conditions were modelled as closely as possible to real life military objectives, as well as the historical situation being modelled. Therefore a scenario based on a deliberate assault on a village might specify occupation at game end of particular buildings on a particular map to be indicative of victory in that scenario. A scenario based on a withdrawal might specify that a certain number of units had to be exited from the map in order to achieve a victory in a scenario, with the opposing player required to stop such exiting in order to achieve victory.

Turn Record Chart

In most cases, fixed time limits existed for scenarios, and one side (Axis or Allied) was required to set up first and/or move first. The turn record chart also listed turns on which scheduled reinforcements would (or might) arrive.

Countermix and Historical Identity of Scenario Forces

Each scenario in the official game releases was based on an actual historical event (with the exception of Scenario 26 which was based on a hypothetical operation). As such, historical names were provided to the forces of each side (sometimes vaguely, as in "elements of the 62nd Army") and other times very specifically down to the company or event platoon level.

Countermixes were specified for both players in concrete terms, with number of units being specified as well as where they were to set up (or enter, if arriving after game start as reinforcements).

Scenario Special Rules

Scenario Special Rules (or SSRs) provided even more flexibility to scenario designers in achieving a historical feel to their situations. All manner of rule modifications could be specified here in order to achieve particular effects on gameplay.

Variations

Suggestions on minor alterations to force mixes, victory conditions, turn length or other game conditions were suggested here as a guide to providing assistance to one side or another in a scenario, for example if balancing a scenario between players of unequal skill, or if the scenario was felt to be "unbalanced" (biased) towards one side.

Historical Aftermath

A one paragraph recount of the actual historical outcome of the situation being depicted.

Official Scenarios (Games and Gamettes)

Other Official Scenarios (Avalon Hill)

Avalon Hill released Series 100, consisting of ten new scenarios for Cross of Iron, in 1979. The scenarios were designed by Courtney Allen (SL playtester and designer of Storm Over Arnhem). Avalon Hill released Series 200 with 10 new scenarios for Crescendo of Doom.

The Rogue Scenarios Series 200, so called because they used boards 9, 10 and 11 which were not "official" boards of the series at that time, was released with scenarios R211 to R223 and utilized rules up to and including Crescendo of Doom. Some of the scenarios in this set also caused consternation in that multiple copies of several boards were necessary if one wanted to play Scenario R220, which combined Scenarios R218 and R219 into one large scenario played in three parts - a foreshadowing of the later Campaign Games in Historical ASL. These scenarios (and one other) featured Canadian units, which had not been done up to this point in "official" printed SL scenarios. Avalon Hill finally released Series 300 with additional scenarios for GI: Anvil of Victory.

Over the years, Avalon Hill also released some scenarios in The General Magazine, in the form of "inserts".

World Wide Wargamers also released scenarios 81-90, and a further pack with scenarios numbered 91-100 in 1982.

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

Scenario Listing 

Released in	Number	Title	Allies	Axis	Date	ASL No.	Location
Squad Leader	Scenario 1	The Guards Counterattack			6 October 1942	A	Gen 22:6, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 2	The Tractor Works			6 October 1942	B	Gen 22:6, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 3	The Streets of Stalingrad			6 October 1942	C	Gen 22:6, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 4	The Hedgehog of Piepsk			14 November 1941	D	Gen 23:2, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 5	Hill 621			1 July 1944	E	Gen 23:2, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 6	Escape From Velikiye Luki			12 January 1943	H	Gen 24:1, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 7	Buchholz Station			16 December 1944	I	Gen 24:4, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 8	The Bitche Salient			14 January 1945	J	Gen 24:4, ASL Classic
Squad Leader	Scenario 9	The Cannes Strongpoint			23 August 1944	K	Gen 25:2
Squad Leader	Scenario 10	Hitdorf on the Rhine			6 April 1945	L	Gen 25:2
Squad Leader	Scenario 10	The St. Goar Assault			24 March 1945	O	Gen 26:1
Squad Leader	Scenario 12	The Road to Wiltz			17 December 1944	P	Gen 26:1
Cross of Iron	Scenario 13	The Capture of Balta			3 August 1941	J29	ASL Journal 2
Cross of Iron	Scenario 14	The Paw of the Tiger			12 January 1943	F	Gen 23:5, ASL Classic
Cross of Iron	Scenario 15	Hube's Pocket			6 April 1944	G	Gen 23:5, ASL Classic
Cross of Iron	Scenario 16	Sowchos 79			8 December 1942	U28	Turning the Tide
Cross of Iron	Scenario 17	Debacle at Korosten			30 August 1941	A106	Annual '97
						130	Beyond Valor v.2
Cross of Iron	Scenario 18	The Defense of Luga			19 July 1941	W	Gen 32:3
Cross of Iron	Scenario 19	A Winter Melee			17 February 1942	U27	Turning the Tide
Cross of Iron	Scenario 20	Breakout From Borisov			2 July 1941	U25	Turning the Tide
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 21	Battle for the Warta Line			6 September 1939	U15	Turning the Tide
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 22	The Borders are Burning			30 November 1939	A10	ASL Annual '89
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 23	Silent Death			9 December 1939	A11	ASL Annual '89
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 24	Action at Balberkamp			22 April 1940	A63	ASL Annual '93b
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 25	Resistance at Chabrehez			10 May 1940	U17	Turning the Tide
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 26	Assault on a Queen			11 May 1940	U18	Turning the Tide
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 27	The Dinant Bridgehead			13 May 1940	A65	ASL Annual '93b
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 28	Counterstroke at Stonne			15 May 1940	A66	ASL Annual '93b
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 29	In Rommel's Wake			17 May 1940	A96	ASL Annual '96
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 30	Ad Hoc at Beaurains			21 May 1940	A40	ASL Annual '92
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 31	Chateau de Quesnoy			6 June 1940	A64	ASL Annual '93b
Crescendo of Doom	Scenario 32	Rehearsal for Crete			26 April 1941	U23	Turning the Tide
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 33	A Belated Christmas			27 December 1944	U9	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 34	Climax at Nijmegen Bridge			20 September 1944	U4	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 35	The French Decide to Fight			10 November 1942	U1	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 36	Weissenhof Crossroads			16 December 1944	U8	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 37	Medal of Honor			21 September 1944	A75	ASL Annual '95
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 38	The Factory			11 February 1944	U3	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 39	Sweep For Bordj Toum Bridge			10 December 1942	U2	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 40	The Dornot Watermark			10 September 1944	U34	Rivers to the Reich
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 41	Swatting at Tigers			11 July 1943	U30	Turning the Tide
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 42	Bridgehead on the Rhine			24 March 1945	U45	Rivers to the Reich
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 43	Action at Kommerscheidt			4 November 1944	U6	A G.I.'s Dozen
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 44	Prelude to Breakout			7 July 1944	A78	ASL Annual '95
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 45	Hide and Seek			7 June 1944	A77	ASL Annual '95
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 46	Operation Varsity			24 March 1945	U44	Rivers to the Reich
G.I.: Anvil of Victory	Scenario 47	Encircling the Ruhr			30 March 1945	U46	Rivers to the Reich
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 81	A Bridge Too Near			21 April 1940
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 82	To Lose A Battle			16 May 1940
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 83	The Final Attempt			22 May 1940
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 84	Le Paradis			26 May 1940
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 85	The Far Bank			7 July 1941
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 86	Raid on Vaagso			27 December 1941
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 87	The Bruneval Raid			28 February 1942
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 88	The Backwater of War			6 May 1942
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 89	Cherkasskoye			5 July 1943
World Wide Wargamers I	Scenario 90	The Bridge at Kanev			23 September 1943
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 91	Assault At Wadelincourt			14 May 1940
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 92	Patton's End Run			11 August 1943
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 93	Cassino Station			17 February 1944
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 94	Hill 112			27 June 1944
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 95	The Attempt To Exploit			26 July 1944
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 96	Scratch Force			7 September 1944
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 97	The Breaking Wave			19 December 1944
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 98	Night Assault			26 March 1945
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 99	Cooperative Venture			28 March 1945
World Wide Wargamers II	Scenario 100	A Day At The Races			4 May 1945
Series 100	Scenario 101	Blocking Action at Lipki			3 July 1941	A44	ASL Annual '92
Series 100	Scenario 102	Slamming of the Door			17 August 1941	A7	ASL Annual '89
Series 100	Scenario 103	Bald Hill			11 September 1941	U26	Turning the Tide
Series 100	Scenario 104	The Penetration of Rostov			24 July 1942	A17	ASL Annual '90
Series 100	Scenario 105	Night Battle at Noromatyevka			1 January 1943	U29	Turning the Tide
Series 100	Scenario 106	Beachhead at Ozereyka Bay			4 February 1943	A26	ASL Annual '91
Series 100	Scenario 107	Disaster On The Dneiper Loop			24 September 1943	U32	Turning the Tide
Series 100	Scenario 108	Block Busting in Bokruisk			29 June 1944	J8	ASL Journal 1
Series 100	Scenario 109	Counterattack On The Vistula			6 August 1944	A21	ASL Annual '90
Series 100	Scenario 110	The Agony of Doom			19 April 1945	A8	ASL Annual '89
Series 200	Scenario 201	Sacrifice Of Polish Armor			1 September 1939	U14	Turning the Tide
Series 200	Scenario 202	Under Cover Of Darkness			12 September 1939	U16	Turning the Tide
Series 200	Scenario 203	Bitter Defense At Otta			28 May 1940	J38	ASL Journal 3
Series 200	Scenario 204	Chance D'une Affaire			14 May 1940	U	Gen 30:5
Series 200	Scenario 205	Last Defense Line			15 May 1940	A94	ASL Annual '96
Series 200	Scenario 206	Fighting At The World's Edge			28 May 1940	U20	Turning the Tide
Series 200	Scenario 207	The French Perimeter			2 June 1940	U21	Turning the Tide
Series 200	Scenario 208	Road To Kozani Pass			13 April 1940	U22	Turning the Tide
Series 200	Scenario 209	The Akroiri Peninsula Defense			20 May 1940	T15	Gen 29:1
Series 200	Scenario 210	Commando Raid At Dieppe			18 August 1942(sic)	T13	Gen 28:6
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R211	Auld Lang Syne			1 January 1945	V	Gen 31:3
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R212	On The Road To Andalsnes			24 April 1940	A31	Annual '91
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R213	Traverse Right...FIRE!			23 June 1941	W1	MMP Website
						U24	Turning the Tide
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R214	The Front In Flames			22 August 1943	W2	MMP Website
						U31	Turning the Tide
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R215	Hasty Pudding			27 May 1940	U19	Turning the Tide
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R216	A Small Town In Germany			8 April 1945	U47	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R217	The Whirlwind			18 April 1945	S	Gen 28:4
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R218	Operation Switchback			6 October 1944	U36	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R219	Scheldt Fortress South			25 October 1944	U37	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R220	Clearing the Breskens Pocket			6 October 1944	U38	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R221	Vitality I			24 October 1944	U40	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R222	Infatuate II			1 November 1944	U41	Rivers to the Reich
Rogue Scenarios	Scenario R223	Night Drop			6 June 1944	A76	ASL Annual '95
Series 300	Scenario 300	Trial by Combat			27 February 1945	U10	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 301	The Clearing			10 October 1944	U39	Rivers to the Reich
Series 300	Scenario 302	Stand Fast			10 December 1944	U42	Rivers to the Reich
Series 300	Scenario 303	Thrust and Parry			15 March 1945	U11	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 304	Riposte			15 March 1945	U12	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 305	The Duel			15 March 1945	U13	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 306	The Rag Tag Circus			12 April 1945	U48	Rivers to the Reich
Series 300	Scenario 307	Point D'Appui			9 October 1944	U5	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 308	Han-Sur-Neid			11 November 1944	U7	A G.I.'s Dozen
Series 300	Scenario 309	The Roer Bridgehead			23 February 1945	U43	Rivers to the Reich
The General 15-6	Scenario A	Burzevo			2 December 1941	R	Gen 28:3
The General 15-6	Scenario B	Hill 253.5			9 July 1943	T07	Gen 27:3
The General 15-6	Scenario C	The Burkin Bridgehead			24 September 1943	U33	Turning the Tide
The General 15-6	Scenario D	Delaying Action			October 1944	A49	ASL Annual '92
The General 17-2	Scenario E	The Niscemi-Biscari Highway			10 July 1943	T09	Gen 28:1
The General 17-2	Scenario F	The Pouppeville Exit			6 June 1944	T05	Gen 27:2
The General 17-2	Scenario G	Devil's Hill			19 September 1944	T10	Gen 28:1
The General 17-2	Scenario H	The Attempt to Relieve Peiper			21 December 1944	T11	Gen 28:2
The General 17-2	Scenario I	Hunters from the Sky			24 March 1945	T12	Gen 28:2
The General 18-2	Scenario J	Semper Paratus			27 September 1944	U35	Rivers to the Reich
The General 18-3	Scenario K	Fast Heinz			7 August 1941	J78	ASL Journal 5
The General 18-4	Scenario L	The Long Road			16 September 1942	A95	ASL Annual '96
The General 18-5	Scenario M	The Dead of Winter			29 December 1941	T06	Gen 27:2
The General 19-5	Scenario TS1	First Crisis at Army Group North			25 June 1941	M	Gen 25:3
The General 19-5	Scenario TS2	Pavlov's House			20 October 1942	T	Gen 29:6
						J82	ASL Journal 5
The General 19-5	Scenario TS3	Land Leviathans			3 July 1944	Q	Gen 26:2
The General 19-5	Scenario TS4	Soldiers of Destruction			10 October 1944	N	Gen 25:6
The General 19-6	Scenario N	Faugh A'Ballagh!			16 May 1944	A93	ASL Annual '96
The General 20-2	Scenario 1000	Operation Marston			14-15 July 1943
The General 20-4	Scenario O	Strayer's Strays			6 June 1944	T16	Gen 29:1
The General 20-6	Scenario SSTK 1a	Death's Head at Lusho			24 September 1941
The General 20-6	Scenario SSTK 1b	Death's Head at Lusho			24 September 1941
The General 21-2	Scenario P	Aachen's Pall			15 October 1944	T08	Gen 27:3
The General 21-3	Scenario Q	Gambit			21 May 1941	T14	Gen 28:6
The General 21-4	Scenario 2000	Operation Hubertus			11 November 1942
ASL Annual '89	Scenario A1	On the Borderline			30 November 1939	A16	ASL Annual '90
ASL Annual '89	Scenario A2	Sbeitla Probe			17 February 1943	A18	ASL Annual '90
ASL Annual '89	Scenario A3	Regalbuto Ridge			31 July 1943	A24	ASL Annual '90
ASL Annual '90	Scenario A4	King's Castle			26 November 1944	A27	ASL Annual '91
ASL Annual '90	Scenario A5	The Professionals			9 April 1941	A28	ASL Annual '91
ASL Annual '90	Scenario A6	A Meeting of Patrols			26 December 1944	A29	ASL Annual '91