WWII Australia Composite Ration Contents
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:01 am
The Aussie "Compo" ration from WWII is pretty much the same concept as the British Compo or Australian 5 man ration is today. It's a big box of stuff designed to feed a bunch of blokes for 24, 48 or 72 hours. There's not much info available about Aussie WWII rations, so here's some info on the Aussie WWII 2-1 Compo Ration from my Special Operations Australia website. Note that this one was a "lightweight" issue containing dehydrated slop. This stuff wasn't freeze-dried, rather it was dehydrated like jerky, meaning relatively long soaking and cooking times before it was ready for consumption. Lots of stews were made from this stuff lol
COMPO RATION
The term "compo" stands for "composite". This was a bulk issue ration pack which was designed to be broken down and carried by individual operatives, the amount of food carried was determined by the projected time of the operation. The ration described here is the Compo 2-1 Ration, designed for 4 men for 3 days.
The ration came packed in a MK1 container. It contained the following components:
12 x 6 oz. packets of service biscuits
2 x 1 lb. tins of concentrated butter
6 x 4 oz packets of dehydrated mutton
6 x 2 oz. packets of dehydrated carrots
6 x 2 oz. packets of dehydrated potatoes
3 x 1.5 oz. packets of dehydrated onions
24 x 2 oz. packets of unpolished rice
12 x 3 oz. bars of chocolate
18 x 2 oz. blocks of dehydrated M&V (meat and veg.)
1 x 8 oz. tin of vegemite
6 x 2.5 oz. packets of skim milk powder
3 x 2 oz. packets of salt
24 x 2 oz. packets of sugar
18 x 0.25 oz. packets of instant tea tablets
3 x 1 oz. packets of curry powder
9 x 0.5 oz. tins of soluble coffee
6 x 2 oz. blocks of compressed dried apricots
6 x 2 oz. blocks of compressed dried prunes
Selection of US and Australian Compo ration components as issued to an Australian M Special Unit operator:
Included are Curry powder, dehydrated mutton sachet, vegemite tin, butter concentrate tin, salt sachets, instant coffee sachets, "Greenlights" brand waterproof matches, toilet paper.
COMPO RATION
The term "compo" stands for "composite". This was a bulk issue ration pack which was designed to be broken down and carried by individual operatives, the amount of food carried was determined by the projected time of the operation. The ration described here is the Compo 2-1 Ration, designed for 4 men for 3 days.
The ration came packed in a MK1 container. It contained the following components:
12 x 6 oz. packets of service biscuits
2 x 1 lb. tins of concentrated butter
6 x 4 oz packets of dehydrated mutton
6 x 2 oz. packets of dehydrated carrots
6 x 2 oz. packets of dehydrated potatoes
3 x 1.5 oz. packets of dehydrated onions
24 x 2 oz. packets of unpolished rice
12 x 3 oz. bars of chocolate
18 x 2 oz. blocks of dehydrated M&V (meat and veg.)
1 x 8 oz. tin of vegemite
6 x 2.5 oz. packets of skim milk powder
3 x 2 oz. packets of salt
24 x 2 oz. packets of sugar
18 x 0.25 oz. packets of instant tea tablets
3 x 1 oz. packets of curry powder
9 x 0.5 oz. tins of soluble coffee
6 x 2 oz. blocks of compressed dried apricots
6 x 2 oz. blocks of compressed dried prunes
Selection of US and Australian Compo ration components as issued to an Australian M Special Unit operator:
Included are Curry powder, dehydrated mutton sachet, vegemite tin, butter concentrate tin, salt sachets, instant coffee sachets, "Greenlights" brand waterproof matches, toilet paper.
