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The Ração Operacional de Combate - R2 is the current field & combat ration for the Brazilian Army. It is based on the earlier, but similar, RAC (Raçaõ Alternativa de Combate, 24 hora) developed by the Brazilian Navy for use by Naval Infantry units. It contains the food and supplemental items needed by 1 soldier for 24 hours. It is to be used in situations where no other type of ration is available. All foods are packed inside 4-ply plastic & aluminum polylaminate retort pouches and are ready to eat without further preparation.

The ration is packed inside a heavy-duty (.25 mm thick) matte green or olive drab polyethylene bag measuring 300 mm wide by 400 mm long. It is printed with the logo of the Brazilian Army, "Ração de Combate R2 (24 Horas)" and Menu information. Inside are 5 thinner (.10 mm) semi-transparent plastic bags, one for each meal and one for the accessories. Each bag is printed with meal information and contents.

Bag #1: Desjejum (Breakfast, 130 mm x 200 mm)*
Bag #2: Almoço (Lunch, 240 mm x 300 mm)
Bag #3: Jantar (Dinner, 240 mm x 300 mm)
Bag #4: Ceia (Supper, 130 mm x 200 mm)
Bag #5: Acessórios (Accessories, 160 mm x 260 mm)

*also called "Café da Manhã" - eg "Morning Coffee",
Each breakfast consists of: 40 g instant coffee w/milk & sugar; 25 g cereal bar, 2 slices of toast (15 g total), and 15 g tub of jelly.

Each lunch consists of: 250 g retort pouched main meal, 150 g pouch of precooked rice, 40 g pouch of cassava pudding, 10 g instant coffee, 2 x 6 g packets of refined sugar, a 25 g bar of pressed raw brown sugar or banana or fruit-flavored sugar, and 45 g of fruit juice powder.

Each dinner consists of: 250 g retort pouched main meal, 100 g can or pouch of precooked sausages, 10 g instant coffee, 2 x 6 g packets refined sugar, 50 g jelly beans or hard candy, 45 g of fruit drink powder.

Each supper consists of: 40 g of chocolate milk powder, 25 g cereal bar, 2 slices of toast (15 g total), and 15 g tub of jelly.

The accessory packet contains: disposable ration heater (round, with air holes in side), 120 g can of alcohol-based fuel (or plastic can with about 6 solid alcohol fuel tablets), 1 box or folder of moisture-resistant matches (20 total), a strip of 5 water purification tablets, 55 g envelope of electrolyte replacement beverage powder, and 6 sheets of multipurpose paper.

The 250 g main meal pouches differ by menu, two provided for each menu (lunch & dinner) as follows:

Menu #1: shredded beef in gravy, spaghetti w/meat sauce
Menu #2: chicken w/vegetables, rice w/black beans & beef
Menu #3: black bean stew, ground beef w/potatoes
Menu #4: dried beef w/pumpkin, chicken w/mixed vegetables & pasta
Menu #5: white beans w/sausage, risotto w/meat & vegetables



Brazil also fields the Ração Operacional de Emergência - R3. This is a 12-hour ration to be used in situations where cooked foods cannot be provided for all meals.

The ration is similar to the R2 and uses the same components, but contains less food. The bag is printed with the emblem of the Brazilian Army, "Ração de Emergência R3 (12 Horas)" and Menu information. Inside are 3 thin plastic bags: 2 meal bags and 1 accessory packet.

Bag #1: Desjejum/Ceia
Bag #2: Almoço/Jantar
Bag #3: Acessórios

There are 10 menus as follows:

#1 b'fst/supper: instant coffee w/milk & sugar, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#1 lunch/dinner: shredded beef in gray, rice, cassava pudding, coffee, sugar, brown sugar, fruit drink powder.

#2 b'fast/supper: chocolate milk powder, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#2 lunch/dinner: spaghetti w/meat sauce, sausage, coffee, sugar, jelly beans, fruit drink powder.

#3 b'fst/supper: instant coffee w/milk & sugar, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#3 lunch/dinner: chicken w/vegetables, rice, cassava pudding, coffee, sugar, brown sugar, fruit drink powder.

#4 b'fst/supper: chocolate milk powder, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#4 lunch/dinner: rice w/black beans & beef, sausage, coffee, sugar, jelly beans, fruit drink powder.

#5 b'fst/supper: instant coffee w/milk & sugar, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#5 lunch/dinner: black bean stew, rice, cassava pudding, coffee, sugar, brown sugar, fruit drink powder.

#6 bfst/supper: chocolate milk powder, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#6 lunch/dinner: ground beef w/potatoes, sausage, coffee, sugar, jelly beans, fruit drink powder.

#7 b'fst/supper: instant coffee w/milk & sugar, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#7 lunch/dinner: dried beef w/pumpkin, rice, cassava pudding, coffee, sugar, brown sugar, fruit drink powder.

#8 b'fst/supper: chocolate milk powder, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#8 lunch/dinner: chicken w/vegetables & pasta, sausage, coffee, sugar, jelly beans, fruit drink powder.

#9 b'fst/supper: instant coffee w/milk & sugar, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#9 lunch/dinner: chicken w/vegetables, rice, cassava pudding, coffee, sugar, brown sugar, fruit drink powder.

#10 b'fst/supper: chocolate milk powder, cereal bar, toast and jelly.
#10 lunch/dinner: rice w/black beans & beef, sausage, coffee, sugar, jelly beans, fruit drink powder.

The R3 accessory packet is the same as the R2 packet, containing: disposable ration heater, fuel gel* or fuel tablets, matches, water purification tablets, electrolyte beverage powder, and multipurpose paper.

*can be either the normal 120 g can or a smaller 75 g tube w/screw cap

Great find again!!

Interesting how the act of heating the ration is pictured. Seems like the heat generated would melt any plastic in the packaging and you would end up with a nice plastic bottle tasting meal.

cavguy wrote:Interesting how the act of heating the ration is pictured. Seems like the heat generated would melt any plastic in the packaging and you would end up with a nice plastic bottle tasting meal.

A canteen cup is required for it because of cooking.
It is necessary to boil the main meals of R-2A/91 in a pan.
http://otakei.otakuma.net/archives/2012011201.html

Please see the 1st picture of donaldjcheek.
Portuguese "caneco do cantil" is English "canteen cup".

laughing_man,

Great pictures there! In the first picture it looks to me as if the packet it being reheated over the heating element itself.

Yes, the package is burning.

I searched by youtube.
Soldiers are putting the package in the canteen cup.
They may avoid that a canteen cup becomes dirty.

thanks for the videos

Great info donald! At the risk of sounding ration-ally challenged.....drum roll I have no idea what Cassava pudding is, and if someone could explain it to me in easy-to-understand terms, I'd also be interested to know if it is actually a pudding or if it is similar to the British ration terminology, i.e. biscuit=cookie, chocolate pudding w/chocolate sauce=cake. thanks!

Cassava Pudding is made from cassava flour, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, butter, spices like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, and maybe raisins. It is baked to a soft brownie-like consistency and usually served warm, perhaps with some honey or syrup drizzled on top.

donaldjcheek wrote:Cassava Pudding is made from cassava flour, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, butter, spices like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, and maybe raisins. It is baked to a soft brownie-like consistency and usually served warm, perhaps with some honey or syrup drizzled on top.

Is super tasty!!!!
Here in the US is known as "tapioca pudding" full of those little pearls.... Cassava root, manioc or yuca how is known in the Caribbean where it came from is a versatile food. You can boil it, mash it, make bread ( casabe) or in flour form make many things with it. In my homeland of uerto Rico is normal to have several of these trees planted in the backyard wir others like bananas, plantains and bread fruit rees will give a family a steady source of food as long as you keept it.