Army rations advice?

[RAPPLEBY2000]

I'm going to be issued a modern British army "Compo Ration" for a cadet excersize can anyone give me advice,
should i bring anything extra? (like herbs or spices?)
is there a "best" number/letter" to get?(e.g.A or 2)
should i just chuck it behind my shelter?

oh, and... erm.. i don't want to put on any weight!
i remember the tinned rations of the late eighties and early ninties with the tins!

 

[wingstoo]

Lamb stew, treat it like the plague...

Biscuits AB are fine if dunked in the coffee...

Try to take along your own powdered milk...Non dairy whitener is not to pleasant...

Treacle pudding is good, Breakfasts are good...

It is all very high in calories, so if you need to dispose of anything I can send you a safe disposal place to send it to...My Mrs loves the boiled sweets...Lol

LS

 

[spamel]

Take some tabasco, it turns crap into GOOOOLD!

 

[Labrat]

Take some babywipes in a little packet too.

After 3 days on rat packs you'll understand why!

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Take some babywipes in a little packet too. After 3 days on rat packs you'll understand why!

just 2 day's thankfully!
I just remembered what the Bicuits AB are for!

I guess i'll have to take all the surgary stuff out first

Milk powder, tabasco, but no lamb stew! got it!

 

[scanker]

Not over keen on the puddings with custard, but it's sweet and hot. Bacon and beans is the superior breakfast IMO. As instant tea goes, it's very good.

 

[rik_uk3]

The packs are great for a few days, after that you need some senna to free up the works

Joking aside, they do have pretty much all you need, take along a little curry powder, that helps spice things up. Most of the menus are on this link

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr408.html

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Ah, i'll stay away from "C"!

 

[ArkAngel]

yep i'll go with the curry powder as well, makes everything taste much better (including the treacle sponge )

 

[Dougster]

We always used to say the AB in biscuits brown meant a##e blocker.

Wasn't curry powder invented to hide bad tastes?

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

i've heard that! because meat went rotten so quickly in india, they covered it in spices to hide the taste!

 

[ArkAngel]

Yup quite true, and if i'm not mistaken in some case with extremely strong spices it used to preserve the meat as the strength of the spices killed bacteria. A bit like cooking thin layers of fish in lemon or lime the acidity cooks the fish (i think cure is probably a more accurate description)

 

[addyb]

Does anyone have a pic or a URL for the current UK army rations? I've got this strange thirst (fetish) for knowledge about military kit and I think it'll probably be my undoing.

Adam

 

[scanker]

The link rik posted (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr408.html) has a pic of the contents. They come packaged in an approx 6" cube brown cardboard box.

There's a clearer photo at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4221838.stm

 

[yarrow]

Rat pacs are cool when you are realy hungry. The treacle sponge burnt my throat it was soooo sweet, but then again I was asleep in 5 mins from the sugar shock so it didnt matter much

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

The chicken and herb dumplings are very good, along with the steak and veg

Fave pud has to be chocolate sponge with choc sauce

oh hell, i like them all

 

[jayuk]

This site has a load of information on British rations and rations in general:

http://www.mreinfo.com/

The uk one is at the bottom of the first page, with photos here:

http://www.mreinfo.com/british-rations-gallery.html

Theres also lots of info in the sites forum, but I do get the feeling that some of the posters should get out more.

 

[spamel]

Treacle pudding, or as it is more affectionately called treacle track pad, has to be the worst thing I ever ate from a military ration pack. This is closely followed by any of the fruit dumplings, either in butterscotch sauce or in custard/catsick!

Most of the food is OK, but sausage and beans for breakfast is for winners, rice pudding or chocolate pudding for afters, and corned beef hash with tabasco, well, you've gotta try it!

 

[rik_uk3]

I've tried the US mre's, not as good as our rations by any means in my opinion; but I do like the vegetable crackers and peanut butter, yum yum

 

[addyb]

The CF rations aren't too bad, but there's just so much stuff in them what you really need to strip them down before going out in the bush. (That probably goes for any ration in any countries army).

Anyway, why're some of those british rations in metal cans and some in foil pouches? I could've sworn that canned rations went out of the system way back in the early '80's when most countries switched over to foil pouches.

Anyone want to take a stab at this one?

Adam