Current issue mess kits (lack of info?)

[jimbo75]

Greetings everyone,
I'm currently putting together a new mess kit/cooking stove set up. Whilst researching the components I will need to replicate the current issue Swedish soldier stove 09 (awesome project by the way)...
I couldn't help but notice the almost total lack of information on contemporary nations / designs.
Other than all the same old german style old school mess kit and various other nations versions (all of which are available nowadays as surplus). There is a severe lack of info!
To be honest, I'm not even sure what the British army even cook on these days? (Embarrassing I admit).
Does anyone have any links or pics of any other nations current issue kits?
Maybe this would make a good ongoing thread? (If such pictures exist)... Maybe some nations would keep this information from public knowledge?
I must admit, it's the most intriguing subject I've come across in a while.
To be honest, I could probably rattle off most modern armed forces choice of assault rifle...
But not that which they eat from?
Any help would be great.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Current british issue cooking equipment consists a BCB crusader metal mug (plain stainless steel finish), traditional rectangular aluminum mess tins, and a folding BCB 'Firedragon' stove, used with 'firedragon' alcohol gel tablets.

Stove is like this: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/firedr...3&awpid=0&awcr=jkp_CILtlbrRn-ECFRYgGwod8JEChA

Mug is like this: https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/86-BCB-NATO-Crusader-Cup/

I believe that once basic training is out of the way, most people ditch the mess tins and use the mug exclusively to cook in when in the field.

 

[santaman2000]

I believe the US has stopped issuing mess kits altogether. MREs come with self heating chemicals used in the pouch and field kitchens prefer serving on paper. That said, I believe they do still issue a canteen cup (similar to the Crusader mug but slightly,smaller) I could be wrong about the canteen cup if they’ve switch d from canteens to hydration bladders.

The old mess kit folded
https://goo.gl/images/acVWDx

Opened and hooked together to go through the chow,line at a field kitchen
https://goo.gl/images/hzpf3i

Video here (she conects the frying pan and plate together incorrectly though. The handles supposed to go the other direction)

 

[jimbo75]

How did I forget the good old NATO mug!
I haven't found any reference at all for the Norwegian forces????
Or Danish?
Or French and German ?
The list goes on...
I wonder if they are all mostly still issued the old aluminium mess kit that we all know and love?
And maybe it's only the swedes with a posh new one?
Although. I suspect the Swiss have that volcano thing...

 

[jimbo75]

I believe the US has stopped issuing mess kits altogether. MREs come with self heating chemicals used in the pouch and field kitchens prefer serving on paper. That said, I believe they do still issue a canteen cup (similar to the Crusader mug but slightly,smaller) I could be wrong about the canteen cup if they’ve switch d from canteens to hydration bladders.

Agreed, self heating packs could be the reason (economically speaking), why old designs may still be in use?

 

[Janne]

Brcause of your interest in the Swedish 09 kit, I did a bit of internet digging. What I found on Swedish sites is basically that it was designed so the soldier had the option of gas. It seems these days not to be ideal to carry spirits, and apparently suitable spirits are difficult to find in the countries where those guys go and work.

The kit is more complex than the old Trangia kits used in the past.
( I think 3 different Trangias were used, different units had different models, not all units used personal cooking kits)

I suspect it was redesigned because they wanted something more modern looking. And the modern soldier can not be trusted holding a pan with the special tool, he might drop it and scald him/herself??
And claim compensation?

 

[Herman30]

This is the modern swedish messkit.

https://docplayer.se/11142543-Soldatkok-09-k-m2824-064011-7-instruktionsbok.html

 

[Jared]

Here's the requirements doc the Swedish FMV put out.
http://www.fmv.se/Global/Dokument/Upphandling/RFI/Combat clothing/11842BE_Soldierstove 09_C.pdf

Seems they want something more suited to boiling water

https://www.katadynmilitary.com/en/de/field-stories/soldier-stove

 

[jimbo75]

Anyone got even the slightest clue, what the Norwegian forces use?

 

[Tigger004]

Current british issue cooking equipment consists a BCB crusader metal mug (plain stainless steel finish), traditional rectangular aluminum mess tins, and a folding BCB 'Firedragon' stove, used with 'firedragon' alcohol gel tablets.

Stove is like this: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/firedr...3&awpid=0&awcr=jkp_CILtlbrRn-ECFRYgGwod8JEChA

Mug is like this: https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/86-BCB-NATO-Crusader-Cup/

I believe that once basic training is out of the way, most people ditch the mess tins and use the mug exclusively to cook in when in the field.

I think you are correct, my son just came out of the army, many are now using jetboil stoves as their preferred kit

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[jimbo75]

I think you are correct, my son just came out of the army, many are now using jetboil stoves as their preferred kit

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Yeah. I'd be wanting a Jetboil if I had been issued a £2.25 piece of aluminium to cook over !! Mind you, the crusader mugs pretty bomb proof.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Yeah. I'd be wanting a Jetboil if I had been issued a £2.25 piece of aluminium to cook over !! Mind you, the crusader mugs pretty bomb proof.

I used to use an MSR pocket rocket with an aluminium mug - just for the weight saving over the stainless crusader mug - which is a fairly heavy beast. Over the years the dents, scratches and misshapen parts of the mug just added character i thought!

 

[Mulloch]

During army basic training many troops bought the bluet camping gaz type cookers, but eventually they runout of fuel, and the army only resupply you with hexi(at the time) so it would be the same with the jetboils. You have to be able to use what is provided for you, its more than likely squaddieproof and made by the lowest bidder. Most of 5Airborne brigade had a grenade tin to store their rations in and cook with.
Someone posted a link on here to this site. http://www.forces80.com/equipment.htm Hopefully it will be back up and running soon and they would probably have some info on mess tins. I think the British forces are still using the pre 80s pattern. If its not broken, dont fix it.

 

[Graham_S]

I recently found a youtube channel run by a guy doing demos/tests of military mess kits, there are about 11 videos to date as I recall, Quite entertaining, and not too long.
Might be worth a look if you're interested.
Orr Wullie Scottish Outdoors

 

[MikeLA]

Current british issue cooking equipment consists a BCB crusader metal mug (plain stainless steel finish), traditional rectangular aluminum mess tins, and a folding BCB 'Firedragon' stove, used with 'firedragon' alcohol gel tablets.

Stove is like this: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/firedr...3&awpid=0&awcr=jkp_CILtlbrRn-ECFRYgGwod8JEChA

Mug is like this: https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/86-BCB-NATO-Crusader-Cup/

I believe that once basic training is out of the way, most people ditch the mess tins and use the mug exclusively to cook in when in the field.

Trouble is most I speak too hate the Bcb new fuel no where near as good or preferring the old Hexi. So they are buying and carrying gas fuel and jetboils. Nothing changes in the uk forces replacing good kit with cheap crap.

 

[TLM]

Propane/butane mix starts to become irritating below 0, difficult below -10 and dangerous below -30. The trick is to get pure propane (difficult at times) or keep the can inside your jacket (uncomfortable). Good ol' ethanol just keeps burning, hex too.

 

[Duggie Bravo]

Trouble is most I speak too hate the Bcb new fuel no where near as good or preferring the old Hexi. So they are buying and carrying gas fuel and jetboils. Nothing changes in the uk forces replacing good kit with cheap crap.

I bought a Bluey Gaz stove when I was a Junior Leader in ‘86 the only time I used Hexi was in Basic.
Very few people I knew used it, so why spend money on kit that never gets used and gets lobbed in the bin?
The new stuff is probably better for the environment as well as cheaper, smaller and lighter.


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[MikeLA]

Just a pity they couldn’t have kept the same Hexi stove, the same shaped Hexi and packaging. The new stuff only
Allows one block on the stove at a time, and has packing you can’t burn away unlike the waxed card.

So I can image a lot of squaddies burying the packaging

 

[MikeLA]

I still use Hexi from 1987 to the few I have left today and like it above everything else. Nobody in my unit and later units used anything else

 

[Tiley]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get hold of one of the Swedish M09 cooker/mess tine set-ups? If so, where from?

Any clues or help gratefully received!