History of British Army Personal Cookers

[w00dsmoke]

Wow some great stoves there. I love the us capiliary stove. I've never seen the pic before only heard it being talked about on here a long time ago as in it being developed.

The uk issue self contained wee cooker that Tombear posted look familiar. I am almost certain that the marines were issues to trial these. I saw some in a container that came back from Norway at Condor and was informed that these were used on patrol and in tents but they were not on general issue. I'm sure some were accuired by some guy selling surplus on the outskirts of Dundee. I should have got one when I had the chance.

As for the bunker stoves... I used a double ring gas burner in our ROC post with the hatch open and vents open. We were not even issued rations but we had a box of hexi stoves and we had a large camping type kettle. We were told that we would be issued stuff for two weeks when we got our notice to man the post. We buried a container outside our post with spare fuel for our generator and various tinned stuff just in case...

Bunker hunting was a hobby of mine after the ROC disbanded. Anyone else do it in Scotland?

WS

 

[ScarletPimpernel]

Jetboils are on issue to units in Afghanistan and MOD provides the Gas.....

I'm posting this from Camp Bastion, and I haven't come across anyone with an issued Jetboil, nor have I seen a MoD issue gas canister. Perhaps you can say which units have the ones you refer to.

Gas canisters aren't on sale here; they can't be sent by post through the BFPO as all mail comes by air and gas cylinders are DAC. A few people have personally purchased gas stoves, usually sent out by sea in comfy boxes - and sent back the same way.

 

[bushcraft_lad]

Thank's mate i appreciated what your doing over there good work ! i seriously doubt the MOD would buy what a few hundred jetboil's for a few company's in the army if they did that why not but wholesale and issue the full British army with them most jetboil's iv seen is usually one or two in a full section (proving that they are privately purchased) ?


regards,Jordan

EDIT:Yes sorry i was wrong about mailing the gas

 

[johnboy]

I'm posting this from Camp Bastion, and I haven't come across anyone with an issued Jetboil, nor have I seen a MoD issue gas canister. Perhaps you can say which units have the ones you refer to.

Gas canisters aren't on sale here; they can't be sent by post through the BFPO as all mail comes by air and gas cylinders are DAC. A few people have personally purchased gas stoves, usually sent out by sea in comfy boxes - and sent back the same way.

Hi,

there was a thread over on Arrse asking about the availability of Gas at bastion and in theatre generally, after the usual banter the OP got a seemingly good answer. This is what I base my assertion on... nothing more I'm afraid..

http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/p=3199305.html


good luck with your tour as per Bushcraft lad what you're doing is appreciated..

 

[Martyn]

Army No7 Petrol/coleman fuel burner, in use until the 80's

Hey Rich, OT for a second, how hard would it be to convert a no7 to parrafin?

 

[johnboy]

Hey Rich, OT for a second, how hard would it be to convert a no7 to parrafin?

I'll have a go at replying...

Pretty difficult.

A true number 7 is a hybrid stove using a burner assembly from a Optimus/ Svea 123R and a fuel tank from a Optimus 80 / Primus 71. It's a 'petrol' only stove and is self pressurising ie no built in pump.

To get it to burn Kerosene/ parrafiin which is difficult inherently to get to vapourise or more so than 'petrol' you'd have to get additional pressure into the stove, a midi/mini pump and the special fuel cap would work for that and then you'd have to get the fuel up through the wick in the stove which might prove tricky then you'd have to modify the jet orifice so it will get the correct fuel air mix then once you'd primed the burner you'd have to try and keep the burner hot enough to keep vapourising the Kerosene /parrafin and I'm not sure the number 7 burner has enough mass to stay hot enough.

my thoughts on it at least....

 

[Harley]

I'm posting this from Camp Bastion, and I haven't come across anyone with an issued Jetboil, nor have I seen a MoD issue gas canister. Perhaps you can say which units have the ones you refer to.

These sets have been purchased as a urgent operational requirement (at PB locations?) and the logisticians are supposedly able to ensure gas and parts via the usual channels, anyway haven't you got a 'super-kitchen' or DFAC at your location! okenest:

Wherever, Stay Safe out there troops

 

[ScarletPimpernel]

These sets have been purchased as a urgent operational requirement (at PB locations?) and the logisticians are supposedly able to ensure gas and parts via the usual channels, anyway haven't you got a 'super-kitchen' or DFAC at your location! okenest:

Wherever, Stay Safe out there troops

There are 2 Super Kitchens: Bastion 1, run by mil chefs, is currently dire - it was good at the start of the tour. Bastion 2 is run by contractors and is much better. The DFACs are the US facilities; we are banned from them because MoD say it costs too much due to so many people going to them. The food is very good and all you can eat - unlike ours. Perhaps there's a lesson for MoD there?

I have regular contact with people in FOBs and PBs and have yet to come across mention of an issue Jetboil -that's not to say they don't exist, but I don't think there can be many. I'll try to find out.

Incidentally, ARRSE is blocked here. Curious, that.

Thanks for the good wishes - I've only a few days to do - probably followed by another few days on Ye Olde TriStar.

The guys on the ground are doing some amazing stuff, and taking the fight to the enemy.

 

[Graham_S]

I was issued with a coleman peak 1 multifuel when I was on support helicopters in the RAF.
Still got it, no-one ever asked for it back...

 

[Martyn]

I'll have a go at replying...

Pretty difficult.

A true number 7 is a hybrid stove using a burner assembly from a Optimus/ Svea 123R and a fuel tank from a Optimus 80 / Primus 71. It's a 'petrol' only stove and is self pressurising ie no built in pump.

To get it to burn Kerosene/ parrafiin which is difficult inherently to get to vapourise or more so than 'petrol' you'd have to get additional pressure into the stove, a midi/mini pump and the special fuel cap would work for that and then you'd have to get the fuel up through the wick in the stove which might prove tricky then you'd have to modify the jet orifice so it will get the correct fuel air mix then once you'd primed the burner you'd have to try and keep the burner hot enough to keep vapourising the Kerosene /parrafin and I'm not sure the number 7 burner has enough mass to stay hot enough.

my thoughts on it at least....

Much appreciated - think I'll bin that idea then.

 

[johnboy]

Much appreciated - think I'll bin that idea then.

Probably not a bad idea...

Of interest stove wise but off topic

Base camp sell the Manaslu range

http://www.base-camp.co.uk/Manaslu/Manaslu2%20.htm

Very well made brass Kerosene ( parrafin) stoves. The small 96 is very nice...

 

[rik_uk3]

Much appreciated - think I'll bin that idea then.

Just get a 96 Martyn, cheaper than the base camp stoves (although they are new and very well made).

 

[Martyn]

Hmmmm. Would the #96 fit inside a #7 case?

 

[johnboy]

Hmmmm. Would the #96 fit inside a #7 case?

No.... The diameter on the 96 tank is too large for the case...

 

[rik_uk3]

Hmmmm. Would the #96 fit inside a #7 case?

As John said its too big, but the 96 packs up small. I've got 'The Pocket' Primus Outfit which is just a 96 in a small tin which measures 6"x4".75x2.5 so in terms of volume is probably smaller than the No7 case and of course its a paraffin burner with a better output.

 

[DP1]

Hi All

Talking to my Neighbour over the weekend and he mentioned he had a box of parafin stoves in his shed. He gave me one like this http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/showtopic.php?tid/1351/
We had it burning and boiled a kettle of water but he suggested getting some new pump washers as it has been in his shed over 40 years unused he also said get some prickers. A few questions do these only burn paraffin? Where can I get parts from and when I am looking is Pricker the right word for the thing that clears the jet?

Grateful for any reply I am not a member of the above website that is why I am not posting on there.

Darren

 

[Jericho]

Hi All

Talking to my Neighbour over the weekend and he mentioned he had a box of parafin stoves in his shed. He gave me one like this http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/showtopic.php?tid/1351/
We had it burning and boiled a kettle of water but he suggested getting some new pump washers as it has been in his shed over 40 years unused he also said get some prickers. A few questions do these only burn paraffin? Where can I get parts from and when I am looking is Pricker the right word for the thing that clears the jet?

Grateful for any reply I am not a member of the above website that is why I am not posting on there.

Darren

I bid on one them this weekend on ebay...someone beat me!
Ask Rik (post above you), if he doesn't know, i reckon no one will!

 

[rik_uk3]

Hi All

Talking to my Neighbour over the weekend and he mentioned he had a box of parafin stoves in his shed. He gave me one like this http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/showtopic.php?tid/1351/
We had it burning and boiled a kettle of water but he suggested getting some new pump washers as it has been in his shed over 40 years unused he also said get some prickers. A few questions do these only burn paraffin? Where can I get parts from and when I am looking is Pricker the right word for the thing that clears the jet?

Grateful for any reply I am not a member of the above website that is why I am not posting on there.


Darren

Hi there, its paraffin only. British army, made by several companies.

You can get new leathers from www.base-camp.co.uk, phone up mike and tell him you have an army T&C ( Townson & Coxson) army stove and he'll sort out any spares you want. They are a cracking stove, nice one Darren

 

[DP1]

Thanks Rik that's vey helpfull. Wasn't sure how good of a cooker it was but it seemed decent to me, then again as I have shown, I know nothing about paraffin stoves.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

I've only ever seen Hexy on issue in the UK- still the only personal stove you are allowed to use for infantry type stuff during basic training. The downsides are the massive amounts of light they give out after dark and the distinctive smell, so most people i know favour the jetboil (which I’m not massively keen on) or an ultralight gas stove like the pocket rocket (with a whole load of green sniper tape covering up the red plastic box it comes in). i went for the latter- I managed to get one 125gram mini canister of gas to last me for a 5 day exercise on 24hr rat packs- which surprised me considerably.

I did try those MRE ration heaters the Americans get (just add a little water to start a chemical reaction, add the boil in the bag pouch unopened within the MRE ration heater pouch), but to be honest, i found them pretty ineffectual in typical field conditions.

A few chaps experimented with those greenheat gel things, and the little cooker designed for them that sits under the issue mug, overall consensus was they were pretty rubbish.

I’m not sure i would want to lug one of those Peak 1 stoves about with me for any length of time if i didn't have access to a vehicle.