Australian Vietnam combat ration

[donaldjcheek]

During the Vietnam War (1961-73) Australia issued a "Combat Ration, 1-man" to its troops. The ration contained one full days food supply, consisting of a mix of canned/dried foods packed in a large plastic bag. The ration came in 5 menus (A - E), each containing two canned main meal items, a side dish, a good selection of snacks and beverage mixes, plus accessories. Each ration pack weighed nearly 2 kg. Contents:

2 x canned main meal item can
1 x breakfast bar (cereal & fruit)
4 x survival biscuits (hard, thick square "dog biscuits")
4 x sweet biscuits (round "cookies")
1 x chocolate bar (50 g)
4 x chewing gum
1 x roll candy
4 x pkts milk powder
2 x tea bags
2 x pkts instant coffee
12 x pkts sugar
1 x pkt salt
1 x pkt pepper
2 x pouches fruit drink powder (orange & lemon)

Plus an accessory pack containing:
1 x combination can opener/spoon ("FRED" - f***ing ridiculous eating device)
2 x rubber bands
1 x scouring pad
1 x book matches
latrine paper
plastic bag
menu/instruction sheet

Menu A: Camp Pie (luncheon meat), Beef w/veg, curry powder, precooked rice
Menu B: Corned beef hash, Beef & onions, curry powder, precooked rice
Menu C: Camp Pie, Beef & onions, curry powder, precooked rice
Menu D: Spaghetti w/meat balls, Camp Pie, instant potato w/onions, beef soup powder
Menu E: Tuna Fish, Canned Fruit, instant potato w/onion, tomato soup powder

Those who are interested may order reproductions from firebasenam.com.

[housil]

So this is a reproduction?

Great find

[specopsaust]

They are repro Vietnam CRPs that Firebase Nam does.

He also does a nice repro LRRP as well as Vietnam C-Ration components.

Really good stuff and well worth the price for collectors or reenactors. Labels and sachets are copied directly from originals. It's the closest to the Aussie Vietnam CRP you are ever going to find.

Here's a photo of his Menu A Vietnam CRP in the bag as they were issued: Looks the goods.



Be aware that although this is an awesome repro, it's not complete and the menu list reflects this. I'll try and track down a copy of an original menu list. Fruit tins are missing from the repro as well as the correct style of chocolate. Tinned fruit was issued for vitamin content and the chocolate was used as an emergency ration. The repro cans don't have the gold-ish laquer coating and my old man (a Vietnam Vet) reckons the big turn-key meat tin wasn't issued in the late 60s -early 70s. I wouldn't know because the earliest CRP I've eaten was dated mid-70s. Also, don't think you'll get long term storage out of these. The sachets will usually only last around three months due to the construction methods used. The other components are good to go like the grocery store chocolate, the lollies (candy) and the tins.

Product link - http://www.firebasenam.com/sell%20au%20combat%20rat.htm

[saladp]

This ration pack is really nice to see