 Operation Tonga was the last that <unk> saw of active combat . During the first week of October 1944 , the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment underwent an extensive <unk> , in which it was completely <unk> , and all the remaining <unk> were retired . They were replaced with the <unk> <unk> , a purpose @-@ built airborne light tank of American design ; eight <unk> were used by the regiment in March 1945 during Operation <unk> , the airborne operation to cross the river Rhine . A report issued by the Director ( Air ) of the War Office in January 1946 confirmed that the <unk> design was considered obsolete , and any light tanks used in post @-@ war airborne formations would be entirely new in design . A small number of <unk> remained in service with the 3rd Hussars until 1949 ; a <unk> glider flight was stationed at RAF <unk> , and a troop of <unk> was kept by the regiment for training exercises with the gliders . However , glider training by the regiment was stopped in 1950 and the <unk> withdrawn from service . 
