Israeli "Battle Rations" update

[donaldjcheek]

Israel has issued the current version of the Manot Krav (literally, "Battle Food") for almost 20 years now. The present configuration consists of a corrugated cardboard box containing food for four soldiers for one day. (Why 4 soldiers? That's the number in a tank crew. Previous versions had food for FIVE soldiers - the number of troops in a Sherman tank.) Most items are canned, and the ration is normally supplied with two loaves of fresh bread, plus fresh fruit where possible.

As a side note, the Manot Krav is not popular with Israeli troops, nor is it necessary in most cases. Israel is such a small country that most outposts are 30 minutes or less from a pizza delivery, and there is a webnet (which you can access here in the USA) where you can order a pizza and have it delivered to a soldier or unit on the border. Sort of like "any soldier" mail, but with food instead of letters.

At any rate, the Manot Krav consists of:

1 can of "Loof" ("Kosher Spam" made from chicken and/or beef)
4 cans of Tuna
1 can of halvah spread
1 can of chocolate halvah spread
1 can of sardines or another can of Loof
a can of pickles
a can of sweet corn
a can of olives or a can of nuts
pre-sweetened beverage powder
2 small packets of mustard
a small packet of ketchup
4 plastic spoons
folding can opener
small bag of hard candy
several thin plastic trash bags

However, on December 31, 2007 the Israeli Minister of Defense reported that, as part of the Army Modernization and Reorganization Program, "The food of the soldiers has also been made appropriate for the use of field soldiers in order to make it easier to be carried. Thus, instead of the traditional four-person field rations, the military is distributing personal rations that come with a flexible casing which can be heated without any external heating apparatus. The casing is made of plastic, and is easy to carry – it can be even be put into your pocket. Also, in the new field rations, candies and energy bars will be included to provide energy for battle."

My guess is the Israelis will use up existing stocks of "Manot Krav" before they begin issuing the new ration. Hopefully more information will be available later.

[DangerousDave]

Thats just great, but how did they get all those cans into the brown paper bag???

[housil]

Thats just great, but how did they get all those cans into the brown paper bag???

Moses could seperate the whole Red Sea, so why should they not get all this little cans into that paper bag?!

[donaldjcheek]

Thats just great, but how did they get all those cans into the brown paper bag???

The tall cans are placed on the botom, the small cans stacked on top of those, and the other ingredients stuffed along the side. The whole thing is then sealed with paper tape.

[donaldjcheek]

Not really "field chow," I know, but thought it might be interesting to see what the IDF eats in garrison. The Manot Krav is rarely used, far less so than the combat rations of other countries. This shows corn, mashed potatoes, tuna salad, and turkey schnitzel - pretty standard fare in most IDF mess halls. Not shown are the watermelon and cucumber-tomato salad that accompany the meal.

[kman]

Looks like pretty standard dinner fare!

[DangerousDave]

Hey Cheek, I was interested in knowing about the plate and bowl. Looks like US Depression Glass ware. Is that real Israeli messhall dinnerware? Very interesting.

[donaldjcheek]

Hey Cheek, I was interested in knowing about the plate and bowl. Looks like US Depression Glass ware. Is that real Israeli messhall dinnerware? Very interesting.

The Israelis are cheap. They don't spec-order mess hall plates, cups, or dining silver ware. They do the equivalent of US local purchase and buy off the civilian market. Each mess hall has its own set of dishes (not necessarily matching), but plain, clear glass seems to be most common.

[donaldjcheek]

More pictures of Israeli mess hall chow.

[donaldjcheek]

Found some new info on the new Israeli combat rations. From the Jerusalem Post, July 20 2008.

They are called "Meal Marts" and are small white boxes of prepared meals cooked inside an aluminum tray by a built-in chemical compound that automatically heats up when mixed with 90 ml. of regular water. The meals have a three-year shelf life, cost $4 a piece and are manufactured by Alle Processing, based in Maspeth, New York, USA. Starting with the next war, IDF infantrymen will carry them as they march into enemy territory.

As part of the lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War, the IDF Technical and Logistics Corps purchased thousands of these glatt-kosher meals that it plans to equip all infantry troops with ahead of a future conflict against Hizbullah in Lebanon or with Syria. All meals are stamped with the kosher approval of the Orthodox Union.

The decision to purchase the meals was made as part of a NIS 4.5 million plan to purchase lightweight foods that can be stored for long periods and be carried by lone soldiers marching into battle by foot. The meals were tested earlier this month by soldiers during a Paratroop Brigade exercise in the Golan Heights.

"The meals are easy to travel with and they have a few years of shelf life, so they are a good solution," to the needs of army logistics, said Shlomo Loshinsky, owner of Global Gourmet Products, representative of Meal Mart in Israel. "They are easy to transport and there are over 10 meals that the army can get, so people can choose what they like."

The entrees include chicken, turkey and kebab. In addition, soldiers will receive dry salami, dried fruit, tuna, halva, a cupcake and four rolls. The soldiers will carry the Meal Marts in their combat vests and one is supposed to last for 24 hours, the time the IDF estimates it will take to open supply lines into enemy territory. Units that are transported by vehicle will not receive the meals and will be supplied with the traditional combat rations, which are meant to feed four soldiers per box.

As an aside, posted is a picture of the 4-man manot krav in use.