Trayration Spaghetti w/ Meatballs

[housil]

Daughter came home from a one week school trip to Italy.
So we (actually I) decided to surprise her with an Italien styl dish. As I "love" trayrations as much as individual rations, I opend:

Spaghetti w/ Meatballs




Sep. 23rd 2003 made


Called "T-18", but label recommand just 9 servings


still perfect color, smell and texture


The meatballs were made from beef only, no mixture with pork Had an "average", little spiceless taste - but OK to me!


The spaghetti, after being in sauce for 6 years, still "al dente". To my surprise, not soaked or mushy. The sauce was "average" too. Add a dash of salt, spice etc. what ever you like to pimp your food.


I would eat them again at least. They were not "bad", a nice dinner to us as we love that American dish with meatballs. Not common over here.

[spinhouse247]

Looks great, thanks for the post! If you would like a great meatball recipe message me and I'll kindly share mine with you!

[britman]

Was that a self-heating tray? UGR express?

[housil]

Was that a self-heating tray? UGR express?

No, just an "ordinary" T-ration

[britman]

Interesting, didn't know you could pick these up on the surplus market. Must be the equivalent of our 10-man ration packs, trays instead of cans though... So I'm guessing the T-ration is called UGR (not UGR-E)?

Anyone know a source for these or for UGR-E?

[Biltong]

Long Life Food Depot sells the tray packs. I have not scene the Spag and Meat balls and the selection is low now but it changes often.

[housil]

(...) Must be the equivalent of our 10-man ration packs, trays instead of cans though... So I'm guessing the T-ration is called UGR (not UGR-E)?

They are not a realy "the equivalent" of them, maybe the idea/purpose is similar
Your 10-man ration packs need a field kitchen always as they are made from mostly commercial items:









The ingrediens need to be cooked, mixed up etc., they are not realy "ready for use"

The UGR´s are 50 (!) meals ready to eat too, they just need to be warmed up.





The trays are a part of a UGR, made from metal or plastic:



Some contain waffles...

Anyone know a source for these or for UGR-E?

"E"?!?!

You will get single trays at certain stores, ebay etc. but no complett UGR´s and at least, UGR-E´s not at all (my opinion)

[britman]

Cheers for the monster reply! Crazy that you can have that amount of scoff ready to go in a UGR with no field kitchen/trailer or whatever required. I can see how it could make sense in remote areas though, especially the UGR-E if you are bloody remote. Although presumably the US must have another ration with commercial stuff in for when there are kitchens available (would be quite pricey to feed troops a ready-to-eat UGR all the time when deployed in a rear area/secure loc).

Thing is, you say with UGR/T-rats that you don't need a kitchen, but even if it is 'ready to ear' you must need to warm it all up, have hot water for brews and etc as well? So some sort of big pan, a lot of water and a heat source would still be needed.

UGR-E seems to be the winner concept for me, as then you have all the usual levels we already have - 10 mans when you've got a kitchen and ORP when you have not - but when you're tired wet cold and pissed off in a pl harbour area at the end of the day, if one of those came with the replen you would be a happy bunny!

I wonder if the British Army will go for something like UGR-E someday? We seem to have followed your lead with the last round of ration developments (FSR and then we issued MCRs).

[britman]

Ahhh in those 10 mans you still have Duncans chocolate!

Gorgeous, wonderful, different-flavours pre-Yorkie stuff!

Mmmmmmmm.... *drool*