Old Peruvian combat ration

[donaldjcheek]

Got a little more information on Peruvian combat rations. (No pictures, sorry)

If you remember, there was a big stink in Peru last year because the head of the Army opted to buy expensive, unfamiliar US MREs for the troops fighting against the Sendero Luminoso.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1897

His argument was that he needed something fast, and that Peru didn't (yet) produce a suitable combat ration.

It turns out his immediate predecessor had been involved in a huge scandal concerning rations (among other things). The ration pack provided for the troops was supposed to cost 35 Peruvian sols and provide 3500 kilocalories. Instead, the ratpack chosen cost 15.80 sols and provided between 2800-3200 kilocalories. Worse, the food was of low quality, and often spoiled or nearly inedible.

The "Racion Fria" came in two menus, packed inside a corrugated cardboard box with an inner bag of polypropylene for "weather resistance." Most food was canned or dehydrated.

Menu A:
Bfst = packet of Quaker oats w/fruit, soda crackers, tin of chopped fish, instant fruit juice, and a tea bag.
Lunch = can of pork rinds cooked in corn hominy, can of fruit salad, instant fruit juice, and packet of caramels.
Dinner = can of beef or chicken, small bag of rice, sweet biscuits, chocolate.

Menu B:
Bfst = can of condensed milk, soda crackers, tin of tuna in oil, instant fruit juice, instant coffe
Lunch = can of stewed beef in gravy, can of fruit cocktail, instant fruit juice, packe of caramels
Dinner = can of pork or chicken, can of corn or beans, sweet biscuits, chocolate

Both menus also contained an accessory kit with plastic knife, fork & spoon, paper towels, a packet of sugar, a packet of salt, a small folding can opener, a book of matches, and a couple of pieces of chewing gum.

Since the scandal, Peru purchased the Colombian Racion de Campana (qv) while they developed their own. They now have one, and I'll write on that subject once I finish gathering the information.

[donaldjcheek]

Finally got the information on the current RRCC (Racion de Campana Peruana), the latest Peruvian combat ration

Following the disclosure last year that the Peruvian Army was importing expensive, unfamiliar MRE-type combat rations from the US, the Peruvian government directed its military logistics directorate to develope a suitable Peruvian combat ration. The new ration had to be produced in Peru, be "cost efficient," feature menus familiar to Peruvian conscripts, and provide a minimum of 2500 calories per day.

What the Peruvians came up with was a small cardboard box containing 4 retort pouches, a plastic-wrapped packet of biscuits, and powdered/gel-type drink mixes. Each box contains:

1 x 20 g envelope of meat pate
1 x 20 g tube of marmalade
1 x 125 g packet of hard crackers
1 x 30 g envelope of enriched milk powder
1 x multivitamin tablet

1 x 200 g pouch of adobo de cerda (marinated pork tenderloin)
1 x 200 g pouch of precooked white rice
1 x 25 g envelope of isotonic beverage powder (enough to make 1/2 liter)

1 x 200 g pouch of fideo pasta w/meat
1 x 200 g pouch of pureed apples
1 x 30 g packet of energetic gel (may be consumed "as is" or mixed w/water)
1 x 3 g envelope of instant coffee
2 x small envelopes of sugar (10 g total)

1 x chemical ration heater (imported from USA)
2 x water purification tablets
1 x packet of fire starting paste
1 x disinfectant hand wipe
1 x set plastic utensils
3 meter length of toilet paper
plus a few accessory items such as matches or chewing gum, etc.

This ration can be supplemented with commercially-available Peruvian staples such as cancha (dried,toasted corn kernels), papas (freeze-dried potato slices), charqui (mutton or horsemeat jerky), chalona (dried strips of llama meat) and dried fruits.