Field Rations
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: any town as retired.
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
E bay is your friend
My darling wife, who might read this, loves to surprise me with her cooking skills. Our garage is full of E Bay spoils.
The American packs are in her opinion slightly better than the British.
Almost all the selections are fantastic, I have a pack of Biscuts Fruit in front of me now.
The little tin of food cat, and biscuits brown are a nice lunch time snack too.
Packets of Instant tea, perfect. The instant soups, perfect too.
6000 cals perhaps over the top.
glf
The American packs are in her opinion slightly better than the British.
Almost all the selections are fantastic, I have a pack of Biscuts Fruit in front of me now.
The little tin of food cat, and biscuits brown are a nice lunch time snack too.
Packets of Instant tea, perfect. The instant soups, perfect too.
6000 cals perhaps over the top.
glf
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK/Philippines/Italy
Age: 73
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MREs, Compo all fade into insignificance compared with what the Italians put into their ratpacks.
In addition to some pretty decent grub - probably with the pasta designed by Guigaro - there are two plastic sachets:
The first is a robust red wine
The second a brandy type substance of obscure origin but definitely rather potent.
In addition to some pretty decent grub - probably with the pasta designed by Guigaro - there are two plastic sachets:
The first is a robust red wine
The second a brandy type substance of obscure origin but definitely rather potent.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: London ( once in a while )
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
USA or UK
The UK 'ratpacks' are very much better, the only advantage of the USA ones have is the variety of 'stuff' both meals and in the packs.
Personally, its got to be meat lump and beans, bacon/sausage & beans top scan too, as it the beef stew and dumplings.
MRE = Meal Refusing to exit - errr humm....
Personally, its got to be meat lump and beans, bacon/sausage & beans top scan too, as it the beef stew and dumplings.
MRE = Meal Refusing to exit - errr humm....
At JHQ Rheindahlen in the early 70's "time expired" 10-man ration packs were sold for next to nothing by Army Stores at HQ BAOR.
My family and I were very much into camping and they were absolutely brilliant for our camping trips - kids loved the contents, especially KitKats in tins and a very good curry. Sausage and Bacon mix was good too - I still have fond memories.
Like all good things packs were sadly withdrawn from sale as political correctness ruled that as they were past the 'use by' date printed on the box, if anyone should become ill MOD would be responsible - or so I was told. Either way by around 1974/75 packs were no longer sold.
My family and I were very much into camping and they were absolutely brilliant for our camping trips - kids loved the contents, especially KitKats in tins and a very good curry. Sausage and Bacon mix was good too - I still have fond memories.
Like all good things packs were sadly withdrawn from sale as political correctness ruled that as they were past the 'use by' date printed on the box, if anyone should become ill MOD would be responsible - or so I was told. Either way by around 1974/75 packs were no longer sold.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: bristol
Age: 56
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If MRE's are allowed too, then peanut butter is just scrumptious!
Is it me, or does anyone else see the irony in the MOD now issuing water bottles and some of the large black water containers with water filters built in, only to then issue lucozade, and other powdered energy drinks which block the filters, and make then useless!
My other half is very unimpressed with the new tea sachets that make 'black tea' and so now hordes all the old style instant white tea one she can find.
Is it me, or does anyone else see the irony in the MOD now issuing water bottles and some of the large black water containers with water filters built in, only to then issue lucozade, and other powdered energy drinks which block the filters, and make then useless!
My other half is very unimpressed with the new tea sachets that make 'black tea' and so now hordes all the old style instant white tea one she can find.
"MREs, Compo all fade into insignificance compared with what the Italians put into their ratpacks"..
Agreed. Bro in-law was in the Italian Army and used to bring home their ration chocolate. About 99% cocoa, it's the best choccie I have ever tasted.
Agreed. Bro in-law was in the Italian Army and used to bring home their ration chocolate. About 99% cocoa, it's the best choccie I have ever tasted.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,091
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the sixties the ration packs we had were 'lettered' A to H, some were not very interesting, H turned up seven times out of ten with 'M & V', (mutton and veg) but, I think, it was either B,F or G that was most popular and the most rare.
Standard essential extras, carried by the individual, was a large packet of curry powder, even the M & V became edible when spiced up!
Standard essential extras, carried by the individual, was a large packet of curry powder, even the M & V became edible when spiced up!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Why oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
During my time with the Mountain/Desert Rescue Team at Sharjah the trick with compo (for that is what we were issued with on exercises) was to dump virtually the entire contents of a 10 man pack into a large pot and add a full tin of curry powder.
.....and by everything I do mean everything - except the toilet paper and matches! (in fact I think that the toilet paper went in on one occasion - just to prove it could be done). The matches were never put in - we needed them to light the farts afterwards.
.....and by everything I do mean everything - except the toilet paper and matches! (in fact I think that the toilet paper went in on one occasion - just to prove it could be done). The matches were never put in - we needed them to light the farts afterwards.
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Age: 76
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Screech.
Is this the stuff currently served on the Akrotiri trooper?
Is this the stuff currently served on the Akrotiri trooper?
For me, the best Compo was the mutton and peas; compo sausage would be my second choice. Powdered egg omelettes would be my TART (throw-away-rather-than-eat-it) choice.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While running the Military Container Service; I was involved in outloading RNVD Botley (where the majority of the UK sourced compo came from); we shipped compo all over the world for all 3 services (and the Ghurka's); it was well worth a visit to see how they put the packs together; some of the recipes were made on site.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Dan Winterland
So you're to blame for my chronic constipation!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Longitude Zero
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best Combat Rations Ever
My favourites of all time were the Argentinian rations that were liberated from one of the iso-containers lying on Stanley race course at the end of the Falklands war. During the first days of peace, these ration boxes found their way over to San Carlos where they were gratefully raided for their contents. Of special interest were, the miniature Argentinian whiskey, pack of cigarettes and best of all tinned steak. This premium meat was perfect when placed in a mess tin to which was added some chopped potato, carrots, onions or even local cabbage and cooked in the oven of a peat-fired stove. Every box also contained a letter from an Argentinian school child addressed to 'an unknown Argentine soldier'. I still have one of these letters and a bottle of combat whiskey. I also have my bottle of Sunday Mirror Task Force Ale that is of course now undrinkable!
Pedro
I
Pedro
I