Foreign Military Field Rations/MREs

[CavScout31]

Hi. I'm looking for information concerning the field ration/MRE equivalent used by non-US forces. Anyone who has trained with foreign militaries or otherwise is in the know about things, I'd appreciate any information you can offer.

Particular areas of interest: composition of rations (i.e. what all you get in an issued ration pack), menu items, accessory packets and such. Also interested in an assessment of quality of the food, compared to MREs, from a US soldier's perspective, what the foreign troops thought of their rations, etc.

I am interested both in current stuff (primarily) as well as historical information dating back to Vietnam, WWII, etc.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

James Boschma
email: jboschma@mindspring.com

[murphquake]

Never tried them, but the French ones are supposed to be excellent, british are supposed to be good too... just hearsay
-bill

[murphquake]

Never tried them, but the French ones are supposed to be excellent, british are supposed to be good too... just hearsay
-bill

[TR]

I'll see what I can't dig up for you on my end...

T.R.

Here's some initial links for some info:

DOMESTIC:

USA Rations From 1777, WWI/WWII http://www.qmfound.com/army_rations_historical_background.htm

USA K-Rations (W Pics) http://www.marauder.org/krations.htm


FOREIGN:

British, German & Indian Rations WWI http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/memoir/ration.html

British & Canadian Rations WWII (Reproduction Materials For Re-enactors) http://www.polarbear-enterprises.co.uk/Paperwork/page29.html

[This message has been edited by TR (edited 12-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by TR (edited 12-01-2000).]

[austeyr556]

I was a RAAF Cadet here in Adelaide, Australia.
I have tasted two various Ration Packs one from the Vietnam War and a modern "E" Pack which I think are beautiful.
I love these ration packs or as some may call the MRE's.
If this is all I had to eat for 1 year I'd do it you know.
Although not long ago I ate the ration pack from Nam that had lost some of it's "flavour"
The Chocolate was white, the condensed milk was like caramel and well the rest was okay though.
In Australia you just gotta protect your condensed milk with your life, even your friends will becom enemies if they find you have some left and they have eaten all of theirs. Other troops will agree with this fact I'm sure.

[Slug]

The French ones are pretty good. The main-course comes in a tin to be heated by some hexy-tabs and a make-shift stove that comes in the ration. The dessert is better in the american rations. The French ones come with a small bottle of wine (good for trading with the French). Also the French have a carb-dense pack of crackers, if you're lucky you get the chocolate-chip version which is great for breakfast.