EPA's

Post by **kman** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:39 am

Wow - that one case of EPas that just closed on auction went for US$107:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0114784286

I sure hope the guy doesn't change his mind about shipping me those cases we agreed upon before this auction closed!

Lifesaver · Post by **Lifesaver** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:36 am

I had the winning bid on another case when the auction was unexplainedly cancelled. Funny thing was the EPAs were relisted under a new auction. I guess the seller was not too happy with my measly $20 bid. I'd love to get a couple of EPAs; but, not at $107 (plus shipping) per case.

Post by **kman** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:40 am

It's odd that he cancelled the one auction and just relisted it - with the same low starting price. But I noticed that the shipping calculator increased the shipping from from $14 to $18 dollars for me. I think what happened is that he underestimated the cost of shipping and had to increase it. I say that because I spoke with him and he said he was going to the Post Office to see how much it would cost to ship a case to me and the cost turned out to be higher than the shipping calc was figuring.

Richard w. · Post by **Richard w.** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:57 am

I was following that auction that just finished, too.

$107 is waaaaay more than I was prepared to bid.

BigMark · Post by **BigMark** » Mon May 14, 2007 12:25 pm

I'm just glad I got in on the $60 buy it now, I was concerned everyone would win them for $40 like the other guys, but it's paid off!

dermeister025 · Post by **dermeister025** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:18 am

dermeister025 wrote:Maybe he sent you mine!

So, i think he actually did send you mine! I got the case in the mail today and lo and behold, Type II EPA's! Looks like you came out slightly ahead though, one of the ration boxes in this case got damaged and the liverwurst was punctured

and the goulash appeared to have a small leak. I opened the goulash to have a look before i trashed it and the can looked to still be sealed as i opened it, but i tossed it anyway.

Crazy enough that we eat old food eh? not gonna take chances on food that might have leaked in addition to being old

I checked all the rest and everything looks intact, the "cans" (they're built more like foil baking pans) are a bit dented and crushed in spots but look solid and non-leaky. The EPA's definitely aren't designed as bombproof as MRE's!

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Fri May 18, 2007 3:13 am

yes, that's something strange: EPA's have a very poor protection against shocks, moisture: just alu foil tins in a soft carboard box

Are the Bundeswehr guys supposed to move carefully an stay away from rain, rivers and ponds?

olli · Post by **olli** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:32 am

Stef wrote: Are the Bundeswehr guys supposed to move carefully an stay away from rain, rivers and ponds?

maybe this comes from the cold war time, when Bundeswehr Soliders were sittin arround and had nothin to do...

Bundeswehr EPA definetly needs a change, its just toooooo oldschool..

jubifahrer · Post by **jubifahrer** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:44 am

No german soldier carries his EPA in the case. He distributes all the single items in his baggage and his mess kit.

So nothing will happen to the single items in field. And the single items are all waterresistand.

But the cases with 6 EPAs are not construkted for the rough handle like the MRE cases. So they get broken during post way and military shippment, if not handled with care. Most problem i know are always the marmelade cans. I check them all, when i get a new case of EPAs.

bye

jubifahrer

YouTube · Post by **housil** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:36 am

olli wrote:
Bundeswehr EPA definetly needs a change, its just toooooo oldschool..

Never change a running system!!!

All single EPa items are waterproof packed, even the matches.
As all the items were spread over the whole equipment in bags, rucksack, NBC-carrier, pockets etc. it is not necessary to improve the outer packing. The cardbordbox is actually just to "deliver" it (but may burn better than a plastic one...) .

Older one with 2 x armor sheet´s (Panzerplatten) and square shape entrees. Need to be cut off with a knife - to tear open was impossible. To solide

Newer entrees.

As US-troops have to carry 3 MRE for a single day, they start to strip their rations to reduce weight. (We had this topic before)
Now they intend that "first-strike-ration", one single ration for a whole day.

They intend what other army´s (Germany, UK, Italy, France etc) are using since almost 50 years...

But also the Bundeswehr has a new EPa, called "EPa leicht". Enough for four soldiers for a whole day.

What the EPa´s may need, is more assortment. Now they have just 6 different entrees, this may became a little bit boring after a couple of day´s. But they change from time to time...