Squad Leader (1977)

Squad Leader is a game of WWII tactical combat in Europe. You direct the fire of your squad, select your plan of attack, or set your defenses against massed Russian human wave or armor assaults. Squad Leader utilizes programmed instructions to guide you through different scenarios of increasing realism and complexity.

Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 8

Awards

• 2003 Origins Awards Hall of Fame inductee.

from "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Squad Leader (1977) Revised 1978, Revised 1979, Revised 1980
Freelance design redesigned by Avalon Hill
Designed by John Hill
Development by Don Greenwood

Not since PANZERBLITZ has AH published a game so universally acclaimed in wargaming circles. Furthermore, it sold like PB too! The second edition underwent considerable changes including a new box, slightly enlarged mapboards, and revised rules. A new edition of the rules is printed almost annually in an effort to keep up with continuing changes caused by the publication of connecting gametes which expand the system.

Magazine References:

BattlePlan Index Article List:

• Battleplan,No.2 May-June 1987
  • Squad Leader – Two New Scenarios from "On All Fronts" newsletter, Pete Flahive
    • "Counterattack"
    • "Victory at Pratulin" (for Advanced Squad Leader)
• Battleplan,No.3 July-August 1987
  • Squad Leader – Two New Scenarios by Val Nohn Halford
    • "Partisan Purge"
    • "The Tank Repair Shop"
  • Squad Leader Abbreviations Defined", Stance Nixon
• Battleplan,No.4 September-October 1987
  • Squad Leader - Two New Scenarios by Pete Flahive
    • "The Burning Corridor. Konotop, Autumn 1943"
    • "The Dying Place. Lvov, June 1944"
• Battleplan,No.5 May-June 1987
  • Squad Leader – Two New Scenarios, Pete Flahive
    • "Race to the Clerf"
    • "Last Stand on the Oder"
• Battleplan,No.7 August-September 1988
  • "Squad Leader 1948" - Red Star/White Star scenarios, James E. Meldrum

Dragon Article List:

• Dragon No. 36 April 1980
  • "Fighting in the streets" scenario, Bryan Bullinger
• Dragon No. 37 May 1980
  • "Large-scale streetfighting" scenario, Bryan Bullinger
• Dragon No. 40 August 1980
  • "The Battle for Warsaw 3 & 4" two scenarios, Bryan Beecher
• Dragon No. 43 November 1980
  • "Fall of Sevastopol" scenario, Bryan Beecher
• Dragon No. 45 January 1981
  • "Skirmish in Austria" scenario, Bryan Beecher
• Dragon No. 47 March 1981
  • "'Two Eyes for an Eye'" scenario, Bryan Beecher

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.2
  • Squad Leader – “A Squad Leader Preview - The Building of Squad Leader” (Designer Notes) John Hill (I)
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.5
  • Squad Leader – “Historical Commentary - The Evolution of Small Unit Tactics” (Designer Notes) John Hill (I)
  • Squad Leader – “Squad Leader First Impressions” (Discussion) Bob Medrow
  • Design Analysis – “Game Design: Art or Science - An evaluation of the Squad Leader Game Design” Don Greenwood, Robert Wayt Smith, Harold E. Hock
  • The Question Box - Squad Leader
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.6
  • The Question Box - Squad Leader
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.1
  • Series Replay - Squad Leader Arnold Blumberg, Dale Wetzelberger, Don Greenwood
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.2
  • The Question Box - Squad Leader
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.3
  • Squad Leader – “Squad Leader Simultaneous Movement” (Variant) Mike Chiappinelli
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.5
  • Squad Leader – “True Line of Sight” (Rules Alternative) by Robert Corbett
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.3
  • The Question Box - Squad Leader
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.5
  • Squad Leader – “Alternate Movement System - A Pseudo-Simultaneaous Movement System for Squad Leader” (Variant) Courtney F. Allen
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.6
  • Squad Leader – “Getting the Lead Out - or Crescendo of Irony - A Humorous Look at the Men Behind the Counters” (Humor) Steve Powlesland
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “The Advance Phase” (Strategy) Bruce J. Degi
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.1
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Discussion Panel - A Quiz on Basic Infantry Tactics” (Strategy) Bill Nightingale
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.2
  • Squad Leader – “Semper Paratus” (Insert Scenario) AH Staff
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Bunkers” (Design Discussion) Jon Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.3
  • Squad Leader – “Fast Heinz” (Insert Scenario) AH Staff
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Minefields and Booby Traps” (Discussion/Strategy) M.J. Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.4
  • Squad Leader – “Squad Leader Survey” (Discussion) Joe Suchar, Mike Suchar
  • Squad Leader – “The Long Road” (Insert Scenario) AH Staff
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Wire” (Discussion/Strategy) Jon Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.5
  • Squad Leader – “Basic Arms and the Man - Squad Leader Theory as it Applies to the Man in the Street” (Design Discussion/ Strategy) Mark S. Swanson
  • Squad Leader – “The Dead of Winter” (Insert Scenario) AH Staff
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Entrenchments” (Discussion/Strateggy) Jon Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.2
  • Squad Leader – “Blind Squad Leader - An Extremely Realistic Blind System for SL” (Variant) Ed Rains, David Pope
  • Squad Leader - “Complete SL Scenario List to Date”, (Index) AH Staff
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.3
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “A Quiz on Basic Infantry Tactics - Answers and Discussions, Part 1” (Commentary/Strategy) Bill Nightengale
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.4
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “A Quiz on Basic Infantry Tactics - Answers and Discussions, Part 2” (Commentary/Strategy) Bill Nightengale
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.5
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Origins COD Scenarios” (Discussion) John Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.6
  • Squad Leader Clinic – “Rubble and Roadblocks” (Discussion) John Mishcon
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.2
  • Squad Leader, Cross of Iron, Crescendo of Doom, GI: Anvil of Victory – “Scenario 1000: Operation Marston” (Variant) By Rex A. Martin
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.1
  • Squad Leader – “The Men Behind the Cardboard - Who was that 9-2?” by Patrick Callahan
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.6
  • “Holding the Ridge: An Analysis of Scenario 5” (Strategy) By Martin Shaw

Microbadges:

Online Play:

• VASSAL, http://www.vassalengine.org (real-time, PBEM)