Polish Army field rations

[donaldjcheek]

It looks like the Polish Army issues three types of field rations: the Individual Ration (Zestaw Zywnosciowy Indywidualnej) in two types, and the Group Ration (Grupowa racja żywnościowa ).

The Type W (Racja żywnościowa typu wojskowego "W") is the Polish equivalent of a US MRE, issued as a meal packet at the rate of two per day. It is packed in a heavy green sealed plastic bag and contains: 420 g canned main meal; 90 g fortified hard crackers; a fruit & cereal bar; dried fruit or nuts; and a powdered drink mix. There are 5 menus (W1 through W5).

W1 = pork w/vegetables, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, and dried apricots
W2 = beef w/vegetables, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, and raisins
W3 = beef & mushrooms in a tomato sauce, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, dried apricots, and tube of condensed milk
W4 = chicken in spicy sauce, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, hazelnuts, and tube of condensed milk
W5 = turkey in gravy, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, almonds, and a bar of dark chocolate


Each ration pack also contains: instant coffee or chicory coffee substitute; a tea bag; sugar; a piece of Vitamin-C hard candy; stick of chewing gum; small (25 g) tub of fruit jam; a plastic spoon; a paper napkin; 50 cm length of toilet paper; a book of safety matches; a couple of solid fuel tablets; a folding ration heating stand; and a plastic bag.


The Type S Individual Ration (Racja żywnościowa typu wojskowego "S") is a less expensive reduced-calorie ration used for "survival" situations. In practice, this seems to be the most common ration issued, and is used in conditions where soldiers are expected to remain in static positions or will receive a hot meal at least once per day.

The Type S is packed in the same plastic bag as the type W, but contains less food and also lacks the means to heat ration items. The Type S contains: two 100-g cans of meat (one of processed luncheon meat and one of meat pate) and 90 g fortified hard bread. Each ration pack also contains: instant tea; instant coffee; sugar, a piece of Vitamin C hard candy; a stick of chewing gum; a folder of safety matches; paper napkin; toilet paper; and a plastic bag. Each bag also has two plastic caps to cover the opened cans of meat or meat spread. There are 6 menus:

S1 = pork luncheon meat, chicken pate
S3 = pork luncheon meat, meat pate w/herbs
S5 = country-style pate, ham & chicken loaf, tube of condensed milk
S6 = chicken loaf, pork meat spread
S8 = canned fatty chicken, chicken pate
S9 = ham & chicken loaf, pork meat spread, tube of condensed milk


The Group ration (Grupowa racja żywnościowa) is a 5-in-1 ration, designed to provide 5 soldiers with a minimum 24-hour daily food ration. It contains food and supplements for each soldier to receive 3 warm meals (breakfast, dinner, & supper) plus a supplementary snack. The food items are to be served warm and require preparation with a field range or minimal field kitchen equipment. Each ration box contains 7 large (10 cm diameter x 12 cm high) cans, plus dehydrated and dried bulk food items. Calorie content has been calculated to provide sufficient food energy for an entire day. At present there are ten menus.

Breakfast consists of: canned luncheon meat; canned fish; fruit jam; chicory coffee extract; sugar; and powdered coffee creamer.

Dinner meal consists of a first course (canned condensed soup), a main course (stuffed cabbage in tomato sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, sliced beef in mushroom sauce, or beef stew with vegetables), a side dish (dried potatoes, instant rice, or quick cooking barley), canned vegetables (carrots, beans, peas, or mixed vegetables), and instant fruit-flavored drink mix. .

The Supper meal consists of a canned main meal entree (sauerkraut w/sausage, meat & beans in tomato sauce, peas w/meat, or meat stewed in paprika sauce), instant tea, and sugar.

The supplementary snack consists of 5 individual plastic bags, each containing: 45 g fortified hard biscuit, a 25-g tub of fruit jam, a 20-g envelope of instant soup, and a bar of hard chocolate.

Incidentally, the Polish company that supplies these rations to the Polish armed forces sells them on-line to civilians as well.

http://www.arpol.net.pl/index.php/en

[housil]

That´s a real great find!!

Did you notice they offer:

German EPa containers with some FRH for ~€5. Such an EPa entree in a supermarket over here is €1.39 Maybe they have their own dishes in it.

I have two polnish Ration S

and I´m realy sorry with them Two canned pate, some crackers and a brew kit - that´s it.

Rudi (jubifahrer) opened his pate:

[Bypah]

Too bad they only sell to the EU...