Dry ration. Dry rations of the Russian army. American dry ration

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

What is a dry ration? You will find the answer to the question posed in the materials of the presented article. In addition, we will tell you about what individual nutrition kits are available today, as well as how they differ in different countries.

General information

Dry rations are a set of products that is designed to feed military personnel, as well as civilians, in conditions where there is no way to cook hot food on their own. As a rule, such a diet is designed for one person. It should also be noted that such a set may include products for one meal or for the whole day.

Basic requirements for dry rations

Dry rations of the Russian army from a similar set of products in other countries can vary significantly. However, the general requirements for them are the same everywhere:

• Possibility of long-term storage. In other words, such a set should not include products that require special storage conditions (for example, fresh fruits, vegetables, mayonnaise, sour cream, etc.).
• Dryrations should include only easily digestible ingredients that are unable to cause allergic reactions, eating disorders, etc.
• The packaging of such a set should protect it well from any dirt and water.
• Foods included in dry rations should be easy to prepare or ready to eat.
• Civilian or military dry ration must have sufficient nutritional and energy value.

It should also be noted that in some cases special requirements are imposed on such a set. For example, for the nutrition of astronauts, dry rations should not include products that can form splashes and crumbs that are dangerous in zero gravity conditions.

Composition of individual diets

What does a standard dry ration contain? The composition of such a set of products may be different. But most often it includes the following components:

• Freeze-dried and dried products (instant dry soups, instant coffee, milk powder, etc.).
• Canned foods (such as condensed milk, stew, sprat, etc.).
• Biscuits (dry biscuits), crackers or crackers.
• Food additives and flavor enhancers (various seasonings, s alt, spices, sugar).
• Vitamins.

Additional inventory

In addition to food, a civilian or army dry ration includes such additional equipment as:

• disposable tableware;
• funds,which are designed to disinfect water;
• hygiene products (chewing gum, disinfectant wipes, etc.);
• Means for heating food (e.g. matches, dry fuel, etc.).

It should also be noted that neither Russian nor American dry rations include water. Drinking liquid is either provided separately or obtained locally.

What foods are not allowed in dry rations?

There are a number of products that are strictly forbidden to be included in civilian or army dry rations. These include the following:

• Dishes containing hot spices or seasonings, nitrites over 0.03%, edible table s alt over 0.8%, alcohol, apricot kernels, sodium pyrosulfate, natural coffee, confectionery and cooking oils.
• Unwashed foods, as well as wrinkled vegetables and exotic fruits that can spoil quickly.
• All perishable products that require special temperature conditions to maintain safety and quality.
• Confectionery containing cream fillings and high in cocoa.
• Food products that do not have documents confirming their safety and quality.

Scope of application

Today, both army and civilian dry rations can be found on free sale. The price of such sets varies significantly and depends on the products that are included in them.

Shouldespecially note that the main consumers of such diets are military people. They are given dry rations for food in field conditions, when there is no way to deploy a full-fledged field kitchen.

Among other things, this set of products is often used:

• People who work the night shift or shift work in conditions where it is impossible to cook hot meals for themselves.
• Flight crews that carry out long non-stop flights, as well as at reserve and alternate airfields.
• Humanitarian organizations.
• Crews of surface and submarine ships.
• Rescuers.
• Geologists, tourists and members of various expeditions.

A set of dry rations in the armed forces of the USSR

A set of daily allowances in the armed forces of the USSR for one person was approved by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. Thus, from June 1, 1941, the dry ration of a Russian soldier included the following products:

• rye crackers - about 600 g (or brown bread);
• concentrated millet porridge - 200 g;
• concentrated pea soup puree - 75g;
• something from the following list: semi-smoked Minsk sausage - 100 g, cheese (brynza) - 160 g, smoked/dried vobla - 150 g, dried fish fillet - 100 g, s alted herring - 200 g, canned meat - 113 g;
• granulated sugar - 35 g;
• tea - 2g;
• s alt - 10 g.

Army dry ration kit in the 1980syears

In the eighties, the armed forces of the USSR used dry rations, which consisted of canned meat (250 g), two cans of canned meat and vegetable - each 250 g (that is, rice or buckwheat porridge with the addition of a small amount of beef), packages of black crackers, a bag of black tea, as well as a large amount of granulated sugar.

Dry rations of the Russian army

Since 1991, the "Individual diet" has been used in the armed forces of the Russian Federation. There are two types of this set:

• IRP-B, that is, an individual diet - combat. It includes 4 cans (stew, minced meat or pate, rice or buckwheat porridge with pieces of beef and fish), 6 packs of army bread (most often unleavened crackers), 2 bags of instant tea with granulated sugar, dry concentrate of the natural drink "Molodets”, fruit jam (usually apple), 1 tablet of multivitamins, 1 package of instant coffee, 4 sachets of sugar, tomato sauce, 3 Aquatabs tablets intended for disinfection of drinking water, 4 tablets of dry alcohol (portable warmer), spoon, can opener, 3 sanitary napkins and weatherproof matches.
• IRP-P, that is, an individual diet - everyday. This set has different numbers. It is calculated for a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and is not very different from combat. However, the presented ration is slightly less in calorie content and weight. Very often it is used in everyday activities, when it is not possible to organize a field kitchen.

So, the IRP-P (No. 4) includes the following food items:

• army rye bread - 300 g;
• stewed pork - 250g;
• amateur minced meat (canned) - 100 g;
• travel barley porridge with pieces of beef - 250 g;
• Slavic buckwheat porridge with pieces of beef – 250 g;
• beverage concentrate - 25g;
• fruit jam (usually apple) - 90 g;
• granulated sugar - 30 g;
• instant tea with sugar - 32g;
• warmer (set with dry alcohol tablets and waterproof matches) - 1 pc.;
• multivitamins in dragee - 1 pc.;
• package and can opener - 1 pc.;
• paper and sanitary napkins - 3 each

Depending on the number of dry daily rations, its contents may vary. So, the seventh set includes s alted herring, stewed meat with green peas, vegetable caviar, melted cheese, two kinds of biscuits, etc.

Despite the fact that different numbers of IRP-P include different foods, such field rations are quite high in calories. That is why, during a full-fledged marching breakfast, lunch or dinner, a soldier (or a civilian) is able to get enough to continue his mission after. Indeed, thanks to dry rations, there is no need to organize a field kitchen, which takes a lot of effort and time.

American dry ration MRE

Military rations are called MREs. This is an English abbreviation that stands for Meal, Ready-to-Eat, that is, "Food ready to eat." As a rule, such a set is packed in a sand-colored bag made of thick plastic (its dimensions are 25 × 15 × 5 cm). It indicates the menu number (24 items) and the name of the main dish.

American rations, like Russian ones, are quite high in calories (about 1200 kilocalories). Depending on the menu, it can weigh from five hundred to seven hundred grams. It should be noted that this set is designed for one meal. In addition to the main course, it has a hot instant drink (coffee or tea), as well as a cold one, which is powdered lemonade.

MRE pack does not include the first one. However, there is a dessert in the form of cookies, sweets, muffins and biscuits. In addition, this set may include soft cheese and biscuits.

To reheat food, the American ration pack includes a special bag that contains a flameless chemical heater. To make it work, pour a small amount of water into it, and then place a bag of drink or food inside.

Composition of twenty-four American dry rations

Below you will find all kinds of individual food rations of the US Army and some NATO countries. Dry rations, in addition to the listed products, necessarily include such components as two chewing gums, s alt, several sheets of toilet paper, a box of matches, a plastic spoonand a wet wipe.

1. Peanut butter, mushroom steak, beef jerky, western beans, coffee, crackers, milk powder, candy or chocolate lemonade, sugar and red pepper.
2. Baked apples, pork chops (with noodles), vegetable crackers, soft cheese, hot sauce, milkshake, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
3. Potato sticks, beef dumplings, wheat bread, soft cheese, chocolate biscuit, hot sauce, lemonade powder, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
4. Soft cheese, country chicken, crackers, butter noodles, hot sauce, biscuits with jam, cocoa mocha cappuccino, candy, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
5. Wheat bread, fried chicken breast, chocolate biscuit, goulash, apple cider, sweetened lemon tea, jelly, cocoa, candies and spices.
6. Boiled rice, chicken with sauce, raisin-nut mixture, soft cheese, hot sauce, vegetable crackers, milk powder, fruit coffee, sugar and tea bag.
7. Mexican rice, chicken with spicy vegetables, soft cheese, cookies, candy, vegetable crackers, sweetened lemon tea and hot sauce.
8. Beef tenderloin, soft cheese, cheese pretzels, barbecue sauce, wheat bread, hot sauce, lemonade, sweetened lemon tea.
9. Beef goulash, vegetable crackers, soft cheese, hot sauce, milkshake, chocolate chip cookies, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
10. Soft cheese, pasta with vegetables, vegetable bread, cake, red pepper, cocoa, milk powder, coffee, sugar, chocolate or candy.
11. Spaghetti in tomato sauce with vegetables,dried fruit, hard candy, peanut butter, muffin, tea with lemon and sweetener, crackers, spices and apple cider.
12. Rice and bean patty, fruit biscuits, cake, crackers, dried fruit, savory and spicy sauce, peanut butter, lemon tea with sweetener.
13. Cheese-stuffed dumplings, applesauce, muffin, peanut butter, lollipops, sweetened lemon tea, apple cider, crackers and spices.
14. Cupcake, spaghetti with vegetables, peanut butter, s alted roasted peanuts, crackers, dried fruit, sweetened lemon tea, spices and apple cider.
15. Mexican beef with vegetables and cheese, Mexican rice, lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, vegetable crackers, soft cheese, coffee, sugar, hot sauce and powdered milk.
16. Soft cheese, candy, chicken noodles, vegetable crackers, raspberry-apple puree, fig cookies, hot sauce, cocoa, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
17. Chinese Noodles, Japanese Beef, Jam, Candy, Peanut Butter Cheese Cookies, Sugar, Lemonade, Wheat Bread, Powdered Milk, Coffee, Chocolate or Candy, Red Pepper.
18. Turkey breast with gravy and mashed potatoes, chocolate, cheese pretzels, crackers, hot sauce, lemonade, sugar, peanut butter, coffee and milk powder.
19. Cooked wild rice, crackers, jam, cocoa, oatmeal cookies, beef with mushrooms, coffee, hot sauce, milk powder and sugar.
20. Peanut butter crackers, wheat bread, soft cheese, hot sauce, milkshake, hard candy, spaghetti with meat sauce, coffee, sugar and milk powder.
21. Cupcake,hot sauce, baked chicken with cheese, jelly, crackers, sugar, tea bag, milkshake and milk powder.
22. Rice with vegetables, chocolate covered oatmeal cookies, sugar, sweets, soft cheese, lemonade, wheat bread, coffee, hot sauce and powdered milk.
23. Pretzels, hot sauce, chicken pasta, peanut butter, muffin, lemonade, wheat bread, sugar, coffee and milk powder.
24. Mashed potatoes, baked beef with gravy, jelly, filled cookies, cocoa, vegetable crackers, sugar, coffee, milk powder, candy or chocolate, red pepper.

Ukrainian food set

Each country develops its own individual dry rations for its army. Ukraine issues IRP similar to Russian ones. This set is designed for three meals (that is, breakfast, lunch and dinner). As a rule, it consists of wheat flour biscuits, canned meat and vegetable, meat broth concentrate, canned fish or meat, jam, granulated sugar, instant tea, fruit drink concentrate, Hexavit multivitamin preparation, plastic tablespoon, caramel, paper and sanitary napkins.

Dry rations for children

According to sanitary and epidemiological requirements, dry rations for children should include the following food products that do not require special storage conditions:

• still mineral water (bottled) - up to 500 ml;
• nectars and fruit juices, as well as natural vegetable juices - up to 500 ml;
• ready fortifiedindustrial drinks - 250 ml;
• soft juice drinks - 200 ml;
• vacuum-packed hard cheeses – 60-100g;
• uns alted and unroasted nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts) - 20-50g;
• vacuum-packed dried fruits - 50 g;
• dry biscuits, crackers, biscuits, dryers or crackers;
• dark or bitter chocolate with high cocoa content;
• canned fruits, vegetable and fruit purees - 250g;
• jam, jam and marmalade - up to 40 g;
• rye bread, wheat and cereal loaves;
• vitaminized instant baby cereals - 160-200 g;
• breakfast cereals;
• beef goulash in tomato sauce:
• concentrated chicken broth, beef;
• dry low-fat cream;
• vegetable and cereal side dishes (canned);
• condensed milk - 30-50 g;
• bag tea, cocoa and coffee drink.