The Parachute Regiment is one of the youngest Regiments in the British Army, yet holds near legendary status for its exploits. Unable to be relieved in time by the wider Army, the ensuing withdrawal was a defeat. The reason this matters is because by 1970 16 Parachute Brigade was a bit of an oddity for the British Army. This is an interesting question to explore because it highlights the challenge of defining why the Parachute Regiment matters, particularly in the context of planning for WW3. This is not arguing that there is a case for scrapping the Parachute Regiment, or for stepping away from the need to conduct military parachuting.