Military rations from around the world

[the_tyrant]

I don't know where this originally came from
but i found it here:http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010091149179421.jpg

I assume its all combat rations

http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010091149179421.jpg

Australian D ration
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090841069877.jpg

British rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090842106125.jpg

Canadian rations(type 1)
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090842349861.jpg

Danish F1 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090842648017.jpg

French rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090844077265.jpg

German type 2 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090844565625.jpg

Italian C ration
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090844848065.jpg

Lithuanian type 9 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090845016813.jpg

Polish combat rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090845382673.jpg

South Korean combat rations (i feel sorry for these guys, because all they get is pickled vegetables)
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090845656265.jpg

Spanish A5 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090846097641.jpg

Swedish type 4 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090846259593.jpg

Ukrainian officer rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090846415765.jpg

American type 2 rations
http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090846620609.jpg

[Ducimus]

Ahh, MRE's.
Meal Refused by Ethopians. Meal Refused by Everybody, and other cute names. What fun they are! They pack, what, 3000 calories each as i recall?

Omlete with ham slice is the worst. infact, any egg course was gross cause it was invariably green in color..... like slime. I acutally LIKED the corn beef hash as long as i had tobasco. And nothing beat that first MRE S**t on a deployment. Usually about 3 to 4 days after you arrived. It took that long before you could have a sit down, and It was like giving birth to a cinder block.

Of course, you could have lots of fun with the MRE heaters. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoXDELY1GpA) (video dated 1996, which was around my "era" of service.) Do the troops now days even get them anymore? Or did the powers that be take away the fun?

(Edit: ( I guess so! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2V_6ID2Uk Good times! Glad to see the "tradition" continues! edit: Although leave it to the marines to use a canteen instead of a water bottle )

[krashkart]

MRE frankfurters on a chilly morning. Never again. :nope:

I actually kind of liked the ham omelet once I got over the taste of the preservatives (ad-hoc weed killer?). :hmm2:

[Herr-Berbunch]

I acutally LIKED the corn beef hash as long as i had tobasco.

Even today the wife moans that I add a *hot* sauce to everything she cooks. I think my favourite was sausage and beans (Brit), after all - what chef could screw that up? :yep: Obviously with tobasco!

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Has there actually been a ration that actually tasted GOOD (I don't mean survivable, or OK if you flood your taste bud with tobasco, or if only the preservatives are gone, I mean really GOOD after normal heating)?

[UnderseaLcpl]

Ahh, MRE's.
Meal Refused by Ethopians. Meal Refused by Everybody, and other cute names. What fun they are! They pack, what, 3000 calories each as i recall?

Anymore, that depends entirely upon how you define the word "calorie". Technically, modern US MREs contain about 2500 calories, which is enough to fuel a full day's worth of soldierly activites, according to the ridiculous and slightly insulting cartoon characters on the boxed items.

In practice, MREs contain enough calories to fuel roughly six hours' worth of anything, followed by twelve to seventy-two hours' worth of bowel discomfort.



Omlete with ham slice is the worst. infact, any egg course was gross cause it was invariably green in color..... like slime.

Green eggs and ham are no longer on the menu, Sam I am. They have been replaced by preprocessed slime of varying colors.


I acutally LIKED the corn beef hash as long as i had tobasco. And nothing beat that first MRE S**t on a deployment. Usually about 3 to 4 days after you arrived. It took that long before you could have a sit down, and It was like giving birth to a cinder block.

That sounds awful, though the lack of female genitalia in US Marines makes it difficult for me to understand your pain. :DL


Of course, you could have lots of fun with the MRE heaters. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoXDELY1GpA) (video dated 1996, which was around my "era" of service.) Do the troops now days even get them anymore? Or did the powers that be take away the fun?

They're still here, and they still work for every imaginable purpose save heating food to an even temperature or making it palatable. Then again, we could very well be talking about the same MREs.

[antikristuseke]

Estonian MRE's are 4000 calories and did not induce any bowel discomfort in me.

[Penguin]

Back in my carnivore days I liked the canned meat and sausage from the german rations - it is actually the same product you could buy from any german farmer who makes his own meat.

For the US MRE's I can say that you should go with the vegetarian ones - I liked most of them. This is my not so secret tip for anywhere where mass food is produced (MRE's, cantinas, hospitals). The veggie choice is often the better one, as they are made in smaller amounts - I won't say cooked with love :03:
This applies not to the "apple slices" in the MRE's - which tastes like a truck full of chemicals hit an apple tree.
Oh yes, and avoid anything with egg in a MRE!

[TarJak]

This site give a good overview of some MRE and CR menus from a number of countries: http://www.mreinfo.com/international/australia/australian-cr1m-1999-specops.html


Some of it tasted OK but honestly not a lot of it was much good unless you hadn't had a feed in a while.

[Happy Times]

Some of the rations in Finland were actually good but we bought a lot of our own stuff.
Same as equipment, you really dont feel you are wasting you own money, when it helps even little during the weeks spent in field conditions.

[Herr_Pete]

Even today the wife moans that I add a *hot* sauce to everything she cooks. I think my favourite was sausage and beans (Brit), after all - what chef could screw that up? :yep: Obviously with tobasco!

haha oh yeah you can't beat the mini tobasco sauce :P You have to stay clear of the lemon sponge, evil, EVIL!!! Always manages to come back up during a TAB.

[krashkart]

Some soldiers have reported that the trading value of RCIRs when on exercise with MRE eating troops is 1 RCIR for 5 MREs on average. In Somalia, a crate of RCIRs would get you a US field cot.Must have something to do with the squid, roast lamb, etc. on those RCIR menus. (Sauteed rabbit? My god, man!) :hmmm:


http://www.mreinfo.com/international/france/french-rcir.html

[Herr-Berbunch]

haha oh yeah you can't beat the mini tobasco sauce :P You have to stay clear of the lemon sponge, evil, EVIL!!! Always manages to come back up during a TAB.

And then there's always Biscuits, Brown and the pate! Or Biscuits, Fly - sorry Fruit - Garibalis with the flavour taken out. :haha:

[Penguin]

While looking up what the hell an RCIR is, I found this interesting website: http://www.mreinfo.com/ - for anyone who want to know what the rations from other countries contain. Interesting that the french rations have an emergency stove included!

[Schroeder]

While looking up what the hell an RCIR is, I found this interesting website: http://www.mreinfo.com/ - for anyone who want to know what the rations from other countries contain. Interesting that the french rations have an emergency stove included!
Er, in the Bundeswehr we've always had our emergency stove with us (Essbit Kocher). Why would anyone want to put that in a MRE?

[Penguin]

Er, in the Bundeswehr we've always had our emergency stove with us (Essbit Kocher). Why would anyone want to put that in a MRE?

The french "stove" is basically only a piece of metal which you can fold, you want to use it only when you have nothing else - e.g. traded in/lolst your own stove. (esbit tablettes are also included in the RCIR)

http://www.mreinfo.com/images/frn/fr_stove2.jpg

[Ducimus]

Must have something to do with the squid, roast lamb, etc. on those RCIR menus. (Sauteed rabbit? My god, man!) :hmmm:


http://www.mreinfo.com/international/france/french-rcir.html

Man, those French know how to live. I have to admit, it sounds REALLY good as rations go. Better then Meatballs in BBQ sauce, thats for sure.

[Gorduz]

The norwegian army uses dry tech rations that can also be bought in your regular sports store so I assume they are good. I served in the navy so we never go those, we god canned food instead (Lapskaus or beef stew) looked like the swedish stew on the picture and tastes great!

[Oberon]

Love the tea bag in the British MRE, I know the Challenger II has a boiling vessel (bivvie) for boil in the bag MREs and brewing tea. Just seems such a stereotypically British thing and I love it.
Somewhat surprised not to see any tins of Spam or Bully beef about, or the old hard biscuit...but I dare say those at the sharp end probably aren't too disappointed. :haha:

Just rummaging around MREInfo.com and found pictures of the modern 'Tommy cooker' (which I always thought was just a nickname for the M4 Sherman):

http://www.mreinfo.com/images/uk/Hexi%20Burner%205.jpg

Compared to:

http://reprorations.com/eBay%20Photos/Britain%20WW%201/Brit%20WW%20I%20Tommy%20Cooker%201.jpg

Ironic...we have little paraffin burners like that at work for heating the chafing dishes and Bain-maries...

[UnderseaLcpl]

Love the tea bag in the British MRE, I know the Challenger II has a boiling vessel (bivvie) for boil in the bag MREs and brewing tea. Just seems such a stereotypically British thing and I love it.
I share the sentiment.:up: I've had the privilege of working and training alongside the British military on a few occassions, and I have to admit that there is something almost charming about their tendency to put the kettle on and sit down for a nice cup whenever an opportune moment arises.

Make no mistake, I'm proud of my nation and I'm proud of the US Marine Corps, but when one is sitting in a ditch, digging about in one's pocket for the remnants of a tasteless cracker left over from breakfast whilst sucking stale water from a back-mounted plastic bag through a tube, seeing a group of Bristish Marines having an amicable discussion over a cup of tea in the shade of their Warrior IFV (they have boilers built into the rear door) can make a person feel somewhat uncivilised.:oops:

[Castout]

Ok we see the South Korean combat ration how about a North Korean one?

Or do they give new meaning to 'kill to survive'? :DL

[Happy Times]

Ok we see the South Korean combat ration how about a North Korean one?

Or do they give new meaning to 'kill to survive'? :DL

Could be, they will attack fanatically when they are told the enemy has thousands of calories on their person.:D

[the_tyrant]

Ok we see the South Korean combat ration how about a North Korean one?

Or do they give new meaning to 'kill to survive'? :DL

They eat "compressed biscuits"(压缩饼干)
http://www.dzzoe.com/images1/31102_3.jpg
http://www.dzzoe.com/images1/31102_6.jpg

I can't a picture of a North Korean one, so I found these pictures from the Chinese PLA

[Platapus]

The best thing about MREs was that you did not have to poop until you got back to base. And then watch out!

I used to like the old MCIs :yep: "improved" C-Rats for those not familiar with MCI. Improved used with the smallest "i" possible. :hmmm:

What do MRIs (Meals Requiring Enemas) and the AF Conflict have in common?

Neither has an exit strategy. :har::o:stare:

[Ducimus]

Ok we see the South Korean combat ration how about a North Korean one?

Or do they give new meaning to 'kill to survive'? :DL

I'm picturing a couple of small, rotten, balls of rice, wrapped in a leaf of some kind. :haha::har:

[Castout]

They eat "compressed biscuits"(压缩饼干)
http://www.dzzoe.com/images1/31102_3.jpg
http://www.dzzoe.com/images1/31102_6.jpg

I can't a picture of a North Korean one, so I found these pictures from the Chinese PLA

Wow thanks for the pictures :salute: though they are not exactly North Korean ration. I'd think Chinese army to have far better ration than their counterpart in the North Korea military.

[Castout]

Could be, they will attack fanatically when they are told the enemy has thousands of calories on their person.:D

:DL I was thinking more like stripping the enemy of their ration but . . .:O:

[ReFaN]

i always thought that british got a packet of Earl gray as combat rations, Trolling aside thanks for this, was a little interested.

[Rilder]

http://www.giftedplayer.net/Edit/uploadfile/2010090846620609.jpgHonestly the first thing I thought when I saw that is:

"Why is our armed forces getting Cocaine in their MRE's?"

(The powders)

[Mannesmann]

It's been some years, but I remember well the dry-tech rations from my time as a Private in the Norwegian Army. They were actually quite tasty! Better than the older rations, that still were around then.
I remember people from different Companies talking about trading rations with British soldiers during NATO exercises, apparently they liked ours better. Can't verify this with personal experience though, since my squad was in hiding through the whole exercise :ping:

Can anyone compare the Norwegian/Swedish(new to me) rations with other nations? Would be interesting to know :)
Is it just me, or is there more sugar in the American rations? ;)

Nice thread!