Mess kits

[DemolitionMan]

Hey I thought it would be fun to start a thread about that topic...so here´s what I used and every german soldier since WWI is familiar with:


Review: It´s a classic. Three pieces that can mostly cheer you up when it´s lunch time-in case you like the food given out The shape is ok for most stuff, especially for food with gravy...but cutting meat can get you in trouble sometimes. Excellent for cooking a soup or making coffee after a cold short night. Cleaning is easy...when you take some time and hot water to wash it out it. Used ones are cheap, easy to get and worth the price.

[DIRTYDAVE]

I recall seeing Germans in WWII running around with a round cannister slung around their backs that hung low about waist level. I thought that was their mess kit. Perhaps it was a bread cannister or an ammo can? I will try to find a pic of it.

[DIRTYDAVE]

Here is a pic of what I am talking about demolitionman. It is not a very clear pic but check out the round thing on his back that I circled with the blue paintbrush. Is that a ration related cannister or is it for ammo?

[DIRTYDAVE]

Here is my Paint rendition of what it looks like close up in black and white without the straps attached. Does it look familiar to you demolitionman? I will have to look for it in one of my WWII movies.

[ranger0770]

That canister your referring to was for carrying the German soldaten gas mask. Rations were carried in a brotbeutel (bread bag) which is kind of like haversack from the American Civil War. Hope that helps.

[DIRTYDAVE]

Thanks for the info ranger. I tell you, I don't ever recall seeing any movies where the Germans put on their gas masks. Anyone? Gas was not used that much compared to WWI which was the big war for gas and so both sides carried gas masks but rarely ever needed them. Was the German gas cannister always carried throughout the entire war, or did they ditch it eventually?

[DemolitionMan]

It was worn throughout the war. The Fallschirmjaeger(Paratrooper) had a special bag to wear their masks. I own one of the regular mask kanisters. They were most often used when smoke grenades were used or it was regulation to wear the mask when firing the early version of the panzerschreck(german bazooka) to protect against burning yourself after the rocket left the panzerschreck.

[DangerousDave]

Mechanized Infantry. From Basic/AIT to the day I exited stage-left, I was always issued a mess kit with F,S and butter Knife, as standard TA-50 and required to carry it in my Alice while in the field. Not once, as God as my witness, did I ever use it in any way. The Army has a knack for paper plates and plastic utensils. That way, the mess SGT. does'nt have to bust out the trash cans and heaters, for washing them.

[Treesuit]

I agree with Dangerous Dave, I still have the old two-piece WWII-1980's mess kit. Served me very well on a many a camping trips. Recently I upgraded to a new Danish lightweight plastic one. It's two-pieces w/slimer and lighter utensils, a folding cup, a spice dispenser, and a rather neat idea of a cutting board. All fits into a two inch thick plastic block. Rather handy, and I had it shipped to Iraq. The only draw-back is the fact that it doesn't stay together very well so you need to duct-tape it or hold it in place with something. It's easy to clean and holds quite a bit. Picked it up through Brigade Quatermasters for around 21-24.95 or so.

[kman]

Ah...Brigade Quartermaster...I love that place!

Is this the mess kit you're talking about?:

SWEDISH MESS KIT WITH CUTTING BOARD