They were used because they offered new tactical options, and a way to get heavier equipment into an airborne landing. Their vulnerabilities were somewhat less important - you'd only be launching an airborne assault if you had air superiority, protecting them from attack.

Gliders provided a means to get assault teams onto a target with pinpoint accuracy. There are two classic examples of this use of gliders, Fort Eben- Emael and Pegasus Bridge. The first of these was a fort on the Belgian border with Holland, guarding an area the Germans had to move through. Instead of fighting a pitched battle against the fort, which would have taken too much time, engineers were landed on the fort in gliders. They blew up the fort's cupolas and gun emplacements, neutralising it. Pegasus Bridge refers to an operation carried out to capture two bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal. Capturing these bridges were necessary to secure the eastern flank of the British airborne assault into Normandy. Gliders were used to land a company of British troops close enough to the bridges that they could be captured before the German garrison had a chance to react or blow the bridges. The same day, the British also tried to use gliders against the Merville Battery, but this failed due to poor navigation by the glider pilots.

Airborne troops were heavily vulnerable to counterattacks against their dropzone, especially if they were accompanied by armour. They could only be equipped with what they could jump out of a plane with. This restricted them to light anti-tank weapons, machine guns and mortars. This was completely insufficient to counter a heavy counterattack, such as those the German airborne troops endured on Crete. In addition, they were limited to foot transport, limiting their ability to reconnoitre, advance quickly, and resupply. Gliders allowed much heavier loads to be carried and landed. The comparatively small British Airspeed Horsa glider could carry a jeep, or a 6-pounder anti-tank gun. Larger gliders were produced - the British Hamilcar and German Me 321 could even carry light tanks.