US Military Rations

During WWII

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Standard Field Rations, Packets, and Supplement Packs

So as to best fulfill the military subsistence needs under many conditions, the field rations, food packets, and ration supplement packs have been designed for use in war or national emergency.

The rations now considered as standard which have been developed, and for which improvement has been indicated are:

1. Ration- standard

a) Ration, field A

b) Ration, operational B

c) Ration, small detachment, 5-in-1

d) Ration, combat, type E

e) Ration, individual, combat, C-2

f) Ration, individual, combat,  C-3

g) Ration, individual, combat, C-4

Copied from: http://www.qmfound.com/history_of_rations.htm

        In the year of 1939, the U.S. Army developed a new classification system for its ration system, which was based on tests conducted in the late 1920s and 1930s. This system was based on the classification of all rations as "Field Rations". The "Type A" ration would closely correspond to the old Garrison Ration.  It consisted of fresh food products prepared at a mess hall. 

    The "Type B" ration would be essentially the same, with the substitution of canned and dehydrated foods where refrigeration was not available. These were often prepared in a mobile mess facility instead of a permanent one.

    The "Type C," "Type D," and "Type K" rations would become new individual combat rations.  They were intended to provide adequate food to soldiers that were unable to be provided with any other type of standard ration for a short period of time (approximately five days).  The "Type D" ration would be used in a one day situation. Necessity or improper use of the combat rations would lead to the extended issue of the rations beyond their intended purpose. This in turn would lead to complaints regarding the repetition of some meals and the complete phasing out of some of the rations, such as the "Type K" ration, by the end of the 1940s.

 

Pictures at the top taken from:  http://www.qmfound.com

 

 

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