Croatian army ration

[donaldjcheek]

The Croatian Army issues the Cjelodnevni Suhi Obrok (CSO) as a "whole-day food ration" to its military forces in the field.

When Croatia asserted independence from the former Yugoslavia, troops were provided whatever foods were available - mostly commercial canned products and bread. When it was time to institute a planned combat ration, the CSO was developed and fielded.

The original CSO was a thin pasteboard box measuring 125 mm long × 195 mm wide × 80 mm deep (about 5 in x 7 2/3 in x 3 in) and weighing 1100 kg (39 oz). The box was printed in a "traditional" Croatian design, but was not weatherproofed. It was felt that the contents were sufficiently protected by their own packaging. The original CSO didn't contain much. Inside were:

1 x 400 g can of stew or beans
1 x 200 g can of solid meat, usually a pork SPAM-like product
1 x 100 g can of meat paste (various flavors, liver predominating)
2 x 100 g packages of hard biscuits
3 x individually wrapped moist towelettes

The idea was that the ration would suffice for short periods or in an emergency, but soldiers were normally to be fed from a field kitchen. When necessary, the CSO would be supplemented with other foods.

However, as Croatia geared up to join NATO, they were obligated to adopt STANAG 2397 (Standardization of Combat Rations), and this meant they had to overhaul the CSO. This was done in 2008, with testing & final development in 2009. The new CSO was fielded in 2010.

The CSO remained pretty much the same, but more items were added. The current CSO comes in 5 menus, each packed inside a thin pasteboard box which in turn is overwrapped in green polyethylene for weather and NBC resistance. Inside are:

1 x 400 g can of a main meal item (beans & sausages, beans with bacon, beef or pork goulash, pork moussaka, spicy beef in sauce)
1 x 150 g can of luncheon meat OR 1 x 115 g tin of sardines
1 x 100 g can of meat paste
1 x 250 g pack of hard crackers
1 x 30 g envelope of instant soup
2 x 20 g tubs marmalade or jam
2 x pouches or cans of fruit slices in syrup
2 x envelopes fortified fruit juice powder (each sufficient for 1/2 liter)
1 x roll hard candy
1 x chocolate bar
3 x paper towels
plus instant coffee or tea, a plastic spoon, and moist towelettes

Of interest is the fact that almost all of the food items are off-the-shelf, commercially available products.

(Tidbit: Croatian soldiers refer to the crackers as "Rambo Cakes" b/c they are so hard)

[Bypah]

Nice article very interesting.
Thanks Donald!

[fdsman]

That box in the first picture looks like a pattern that might have been used on wallpaper during the 1970's.

[rekrutacja]

they were obligated to adopt STANAG 2397 (Standardization of Combat Rations)

Proper number of the standard is STANAG 2937. Here is document stating that anyone can obtain this standard:
ftp://ftp.rta.nato.int/Pubfulltext/RTO/ ... -ANN-H.pdf

"Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 2937, Edition 3, referenced in this annex and promulgated on 9 May
2001, is classified as ‘NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED’ and therefore cannot be published as an annex to the
report. This document is available, however, to all authorized parties and can be obtained from the NATO
Standardization Agency at nsa@nsa.nato.int."

Anyone tried to ask for it?

EDIT:

I just started new thread on STANAG 2937:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4885