What i've learned so far about british rations.

Discussions about rations from other countries - IMPs, EPAs, RCIRs, etc.
dermeister025
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What i've learned so far about british rations.

Post by dermeister025 » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:55 am

Alright, after handling these 6 cases of Britsh 24 hour rats i've been able to make a few observations about them. I'll try to summarize what i've figured out so far:

- The date printed on the case appears to be the production date, not an inspect/test date as on US and Canadian rations.

- They come in cases of 10, and each case appears to contain 10 of one menu (although they came to me mixed unproportionally this is what's indicated by the printing on the case) They must get mixed upon issuing to the individual soldier. Or perhaps they get a choice?

- The british love sweets! the one i've eaten so far came with six packets of sugar, each containing 2 teaspoons - as well as two large chocolate bars, one bag of candies and a packet of gum.

- The drink mixes make much more than their american or canadian counterparts. Each comes with enough cocoa powder for one pint of water, and enough beverage mix for one litre! Also included are 2 packets of instant coffee which taste much stronger than the taster's choice when made with the same amount of water. and 4 packets of "instant white tea" which is essentially instant tea with pre-measured whitener. It's not bad but one might expect a better tea out of the brits (I like to refer to it as Advanced Tea Substitute - anyone read or seen hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy?)

- During september of 2002 the packing plant seems to have suffered a shortage of Corned Beef Hash. All of the "D" menus that i've inspected seem to have sausage and beans for the breakfast entree instead. Or perhaps this could be attributed to the menu being changed around then but still using the old boxes, i'm not entirely sure.

- All the 2002 menus i have are packed with 2 solid chocolate bars made by Duncans of Scotland. The 2000/2001 menus seem to have 1 solid chocolate bar, and 1 chocolate bar w/ raisins and cereal. Perhaps another menu change?

- Occasionally the production date on the Pate is one year earlier than the production date on the rest of the components. Since the pate is canned i take this to mean is has a longer life expectancy.

That's what i've come up with so far - I'll post more as i get in deeper and take some pictures as time permits! Eventually i might also have some info to add on IMP's - i picked up a case recently. I have a lot of rations to eat now! 8) If there's anything specific anyone wants me to check on, just let me know!
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Post by kman » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:36 am

Great reviews, dermeister025! Got any pics to go along with it?

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Re: What i've learned so far about british rations.

Post by Roundeyesamurai » Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:09 pm

WRT the date on the package- since the rat packs are packaged by the MOD (at HM Naval Base Portsmouth), it wouldn't surprise me if whatever inspection occurs, occurs right on the production line.

WRT sweets- yup! Might be part of the explanation for the teeth :lol:

WRT substitutions- that's to be expected.

WRT H2G2- You mean the "sickly liquid which is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea", produced by the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser? 8)

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Post by Jaylo » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:46 am

Ok-

Sugar/Sweets- We live in the cold and need lots of sugar to keep us warm on the frequent wet days.....Plus British Soldiers are expected to deploy in a country prior to Burger King opening there ;)

Instant Tea- As I coffee drinker I can't comment, but I do know of people sent to the Tower Of London for 100 years for serving instant tea: instant tea is meant to taste crap......for you gastronomically stunted US types tea is a LEAF, in a bag, which you steep in JUST BOILED water (not tepid) until the mug goes orange with tannin then add 17 sugars (see above) and enough milk to make a rosey coloured liquid.

Coffee- Having spat out a mouthful of Taster's Choice, I have to ask what the 'Taster' had been smoking to issue that coffee to the troops. Proper strength of flavour is good for you.

Pate- This was inedible at the point of manufacture, therefore manufacturing date is irrelevant. :wink:

Choccy bars- The British Army have several different approved contractors for the sweets so you'll find a variety of chochlate blocks with nut, fruit and nut, cereal and without at random.

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Post by Roundeyesamurai » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:07 pm

Jaylo:

When out in the field for real (as opposed to playing games in the field), one doesn't have time to brew. It's instant, or do without. One can't be picky about how it tastes, either. Drink/eat it, or do without.

dermeister025
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Post by dermeister025 » Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:03 am

It wouldn't be much extra time to brew a cup of tea in the field though - that's what i do with my coffee actually when i'm not chowin' on MRE's. In my ready pack i carry some instant coffee packets that look and brew just like individual tea bags. They brew up pretty quick and are much stronger and tastier than instant coffees. They're made by maxwell house i think, could definitely improve any ration by including one!
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Post by Roundeyesamurai » Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:21 am

Time to brew coffee in the field? Damn, must be cushy these days.

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Post by Enchilada » Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:36 pm

dermeister025 wrote:It wouldn't be much extra time to brew a cup of tea in the field though - that's what i do with my coffee actually when i'm not chowin' on MRE's. In my ready pack i carry some instant coffee packets that look and brew just like individual tea bags. They brew up pretty quick and are much stronger and tastier than instant coffees. They're made by maxwell house i think, could definitely improve any ration by including one!
Talking of hot drinks I got a ready cappuchino in a Canadian ration recently!
Talking of which God bless those four Canadian troops who just lost their lives in Afghanistan!

Jaylo
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Post by Jaylo » Tue May 02, 2006 4:33 am

Roundeyesamurai wrote:Jaylo:

When out in the field for real (as opposed to playing games in the field), one doesn't have time to brew. It's instant, or do without. One can't be picky about how it tastes, either. Drink/eat it, or do without.
Nonsense! That's what made the British Empire great- knowing when to brew up in a civilised fashion and when to charge into the heathen hoardes with bayonets fixed......Why, if a man can't sit down in a pitched firefight and enjoy a cup of fresh Earl Grey and a Jaffa Cake then what's the world coming to?! ;) :lol:

Quite right though- I've had supermarket instant tea which was much more palatable than the Brit Rat Pack stuff, so I suspect that longevity improvements have been made at the cost of flavour......much like MRE Cheese Spread.

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Post by pablo_fiasco » Tue May 02, 2006 9:39 am

quick question:

having aquired two of this british 24hr packs recently, iw as wondering waht the best way to heat/prepare these are?
(when in a home setting that is)
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