Estonian army dry ration

[donaldjcheek]

In 2008, Estonia began developing a NATO compatible combat ration pack. In 2010, the Kaitseväe kuivtoidupakk 24H (Defense Force dry ration pack, 24 hour) was fielded. Packaged in a tan plastic bag, it contains food & supplements for 1 soldier for 24 hours. The bag weighs between 1428 g - 1575 g.

Inside are two retort-pouched main meals, a can of pate, a can of sprats or herring, 2 packages of Army crackers, a pouch of fruit puree, tea, sugar, a can or pouch of halva spread, and a package of breakfast cereal with milk powder.

When developed, there were 8 menus ("ratsioon nr 1 - nr 8"); there are currently 10 menus, and Estonia plans to increase these to 14 menus by 2016. That means that - theoretically - a soldier will be able to go 14 days without repeating a menu. Troops call the ration the "NATO pack."

Menus:

1. ground beef meatballs w/potatoes in tomato sauce; beef stroganoff with potatoes; smoked sprats; goose liver pate; 2 x packs crisp Army crackers; halva spread w/nuts; fruit puree (apple-peach); crisp muesli with milk; 4 x packs sugar; black tea & green tea.

2. sausage, potatoes & cabbage in tomato sauce; potatoes in liver sauce; sprats in oil; chicken pate; 2 x packs crisp bread; vanilla flavor halva spread; honey; fruit puree (apple-cherry); expedition breakfast (cereal with nuts & dried fruit); honey; black tea & green tea.

3. potatoes w/meat sauce; chili con carne; smoked sprats; honey; 2 x packs crisp army crackers; chocolate flavored halva spread; fruit puree (apple-peach); crunchy muesli; 2 x packs sugar; black tea; isotonic sport drink powder.

4. goulash with potatoes; stuffed peppers w/ground beef; sprats in tomato sauce; goose liver pate; 2 x packs crisp army crackers; rum flavored halva spread; fruit puree (cherry); travelers breakfast; 4 x packs sugar; black & green tea.

7. potatoes w/liver in sauce; chili con carne; 2 x pack crisp army bread; pork liver pate w/almonds; halva spread w/peanuts; fruit puree (apple & cherry); crunchy muesli w/milk & dried fruit; 2 x packs sugar; black tea; isotonic sport drink mix.

8. beef goulash with potatoes; meatballs & potatoes in tomato sauce; sprats in oil; meat paste; 2 x packs crisp army crackers; vanilla flavored halva spread; fruit puree; travelers breakfast; 4 x packs sugar; black & green tea.

The Estonian military is currently developing a new ration pack which adds instant noodles, cocoa & coffee, chocolate, and more main meal choices.

[Ruleryak]

... and the wishlist gets even longer

Thanks for all the details Donald!

[housil]

I´m always amazed what exoctic rations pictures you get

[Treesuit]

I noticed that the ration pack label is printed in the native language and English. Are most Eastern Bloc countries rations printed with two languages or several? I seems that English is one of the languages.

[housil]

Are most Eastern Bloc countries...

When the USSR felt apart in 1991, that three little Baltic countries figured out it´s better to "go west" than keep connected to "mother russia". (In WW1, they were German territory , during WW2, Russia occupied that three countries.)