Military Food/Rations Discussion

[Knowledgeispower]

We start a deployment with good food.

Three months later you have industrial cans of ravioli and powdered milk.

Yeah there's a reason subs like pulling into port as much as they can where practicable to restock on food. The fresh and frozen stuff only lasts so long and unlike everyone else there's no replenishment at sea

 

[Jormungandr]

its not so bad when you mix it with something else like juice.

I'll stick with the Reaper.

 

[Cherico]

I'll stick with the Reaper.

 

[mrttao]

It was 16.75lbs of food and 70lbs of beer per week, not per day.

ok, per week is more reasonable.

 

[bintananth]

ok, per week is more reasonable.

When you include the water added to the rum and lime juice to keep the crew somewhat functionally drunk instead of falling down shitfaced you weren't too far off ...

The RN during the Age of Sail makes Boris Yeltsin drunk driving a superpower look like an amateur.

 

[Robovski]

ok, per week is more reasonable.

The meat ration will be with bone, ect... as well. The butchering for preservation then was just to chunk the animal to equal portions before putting into the salt barrel. Most likely mutton or pork.

 

[Sailor.X]

hopefully they at least give you guys decent food and coffee that isnt shit.

Points at Navy Chow back in the day.

 

[Cherico]

Points at Navy Chow back in the day.

Ok can you at least agree that our fighting men deserve good food even if they dont get it?

 

[Sailor.X]

Ok can you at least agree that our fighting men deserve good food even if they dont get it?

That we can agree. Too bad the Air Force and Navy Subs snagged it all.

 

[Typhonis]

If you want to see how bad it used to be look up 'a pound of meat' from the James Townsends and son youtube channel. He has some Revolutionary war re enacing going on and talks about how they were fed.

 

[Husky_Khan]

If you want to see how bad it used to be look up 'a pound of meat' from the James Townsends and son youtube channel. He has some Revolutionary war re enacing going on and talks about how they were fed.

Yessss...

DELICIOUS!

Bluish-Black Southern Salt Pork Boiled to Edibility! Or Fresh Cows Feet!



But what's even more deliciously inedible?

The Chinese Type 13 MRE of course.



Apparently more Deleterious to his Health then the British Canned Beef he ate that was dated from the Boer War... or the century plus old US Military Emergency Ration. Pemmican lasts almost forever I guess.

Almost makes you wanna eat like a peasant.



Artisan Bread. Regional Craft Ale. Fresh Salmon. Peas and Greens cooked in Bacon Fat... OVER A PROPER STOVE.

 

[Sailor.X]

Yessss...

DELICIOUS!

Bluish-Black Southern Salt Pork Boiled to Edibility! Or Fresh Cows Feet!



But what's even more deliciously inedible?

The Chinese Type 13 MRE of course.



Apparently more Deleterious to his Health then the British Potted Beef he ate that was dated from the Boer War... or the century plus old US Military Emergency Ration. Pemmican lasts almost forever I guess.

Almost makes you wanna eat like a peasant.



Artisan Bread. Regional Craft Ale. Fresh Salmon. Peas and Greens cooked in Bacon Fat... OVER A PROPER STOVE.

I would sooner eat a Cat than eat a Chinese MRE............. I think I just repeated myself.

 

[bintananth]

I would sooner eat a Cat than eat a Chinese MRE............. I think I just repeated myself.

We should be shooting for "just as good as the French" when it comes to feeding the troops. Behold, the Ration de Combat Individuelle Rechauffable:

French RCIR | MRE Info

MREInfo.com, Information about the French military ration - the RCIR - Ration de Combat Individuelle Rechauffable.

www.mreinfo.com

That's basically 5-star gourmet take-out compared to what everyone else gets.

 

[Typhonis]

You asked for Pemmican.

Here is the WW2 ration tested for battle by soldiers in Panama. They wore very little equipment and just marched around a parade ground.

 

[colorles]

The amount of sodium and preservatives in MRE's are off the charts. And no, the human body does not need anywhere near that much sodium, even in tropical environments as i often hear people say. And without a ton of fluids to drink with it, those rations with their salt levels will make you sick. And - here's the kicker - many Americans are easting the civilian equivalents of heavily preserved ration foods, on the daily and have been doing so since they were kids. It doesn't even cost much to eat a fresh meal of rice and beans. But American parents are raising their children on unhealthy, overly preserved and processed foods...because they themselves were raised on it. And fortunes are being made.

Back to the military ration side of things : pemmican makes a lot of sense. Also dried fruits and nuts. Filling, but easy to digest foods with low sodium. Or just a good old fashioned lard porridge.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Ukrainian Military Food.



And a review of a Ukrainian MRE,



Pork Kasha seems delicious!

 

[ThatZenoGuy]

Zeno has eaten several American MRE's, a single Australian CR1M, several civilian versions of the CR1M, a Russian ration, and three French RCIR rations.

Not going to lie overall I like the Australian ones the most but others have their benefits.

French rations are exceedingly decadent, gourmet in places but that results in a few items which are a little 'niche' for my tastes.

American rations are basically the fast-food of MRE's, little tastes 'real' but on the flipside I love me some hyper-processed garbage loaded with MSG and fun stuff.

Russian ration was very 'home cooked' feel but that's somewhat it's weakness because when I think of 'food on the go and easy to eat' I don't think of a Russian grandma's cooking involving buckwheat and rock-hard biscuits.

Australian MRE is somewhat simple, somewhat complex, with a tube of god damned CONDENSED MILK. GLORIOUS.

 

[Zachowon]

American MREs are often gutted and made to last.
It is packed full of calories

 

[ThatZenoGuy]

American MREs are often gutted and made to last.
It is packed full of calories

Every MRE is packed with calories, all of them are approximately the same.
Ones made for special forces tend to be more concentrated and thus smaller, but the overall packages are about equal.

 

[Zachowon]

Every MRE is packed with calories, all of them are approximately the same.
Ones made for special forces tend to be more concentrated and thus smaller, but the overall packages are about equal.

US issues the same tonSF.
They just make it fit in thier shit easier.
The US made thing that actually do petty good for longevity too