262:, two factors influenced the design of the US Army's M-1926, M-1932, and M-1942 mess kits. First, unlike most other armies of the day, the US mess kit was designed to serve men queuing in feeding lines and served in unit formations from large garrison-type field kitchens when not on daily combat operations. Secondly, US soldiers in the field were never expected to forage or to completely cook their rations, even in daily combat or front line service. Instead, when not used as a serving tray for company-size or larger units, the mess kit was used to re-heat pre-measured servings of the canned
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larger pot has a wire handle, or bail, for suspending over a fire; the smaller has hinged handle. The two pots nest together and stow inside the windshield. The set is completed by a small plastic fuel bottle. It is recommended that the fuel bottle and burner unit be stored separately, outside the pots (since alcohol may otherwise seep out). A Swedish army plastic mug can also be fitted inside the pots.
538:
design that featured a metal water bottle held in the middle. The next layer of the set was a large canteen/cooking pot with a wire handle, then a smaller saucepan-type component with a folding metal handle. This last component fitted over the base of the larger cooking pot, the handle was then folded up and clipped over the cooking pot and the lip of the water bottle. This variant was often called "
543:
continues to be used today in the armies of many former Soviet republics, but in recent years the military of the
Russian Federation has stopped issuing mess kits to soldiers due to the lack of adequate supply owing to the size of newly formed combat units, lack of adequate domestic production, poor storage of existing units and the sale of Soviet-era stockpiles to civilians and third-party buyers.
32:
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which locks onto another latch. In use, each piece may be used individually, or as a unitary three-compartment mess tray, accomplished by sliding the lid-plate's center divider onto the folding handle, and securing it to the handle by the ring-and-latch mechanisms. When latched, the kit can be held in a ready position by the user in one hand to receive US Army's
1098:
188:
282:. The "Meat can, body", with its folding handle extended, can double as a crude skillet. The "Mess kit, plate" (lid) is even shallower, and is pressed to form two compartments, with a center divide wide enough to accommodate the folding handle. The plate also has a very secure ring that is held in place by friction.
722:, though enameled steel is also common, and some items (such as cutlery or plates) may be made of more expensive materials, such as titanium, to further save weight, or of plastic. A civilian mess kit usually contains at least a skillet, a kettle (which may also serve as a coffee pot), a plate, a cup (typically a
295:
to cook raw food, it is really too shallow and thin to serve as an effective skillet, and was usually restricted to heating the canned meat ration. After 1938, the "Meat can, body" was used to heat the meat and vegetable component of the C-ration, or to reconstitute breakfast items such as C-ration powdered eggs.
644:
The 1874-model was made of tinplated steel and had a "D" plan view with rounded corners. The tray or cup piece had a folding handle that opened to the side. The tray also functioned as a deep lid for the pan. This change from the 1854-model allowed the use of the narrow and tighter curved side of the
648:
The geometry of the older
British mess tins was substantially different. The 1854-model was D-shaped in plan view and was made of tinplated iron. It was fabricated from front and back panels of sheet metal. The tray or cup nested inside the pan. The handle of the tray or cup folded inside but was on
542:
type". The mess set was sometimes issued with a pouch, although this was by no means certain and many soldiers simply hung it onto their equipment from the wire handle. Officers were often issued a satchel-type bag for their mess kits in keeping with their smart image. This latest design of mess kit
678:
rations, many soldiers prefer a single large metal mug, as one item can be used to cook food and to make and consume hot drinks, thereby cutting down on equipment weight. As such cups fit beneath the standard water bottle, they also take up less space in the soldiers' equipment. The mess tin or cup
661:
A new pattern of mess tin was developed for the Web
Equipment 1937 Pattern, which was a nested, two-piece rectangular mess tin with long, folding handles. An enamelled tin mug was used for drinking hot liquids. The water bottle of the 1908 Pattern Web Equipment was unchanged, though the web carrier
384:
was made of aluminium and not designed for cooking; only to contain food distributed from field kitchens. The early models of the 1908 were painted in a distinct matte black. In 1910, the aluminum handle was replaced with one of galvanised iron, as aluminum often got hot in the soldiers' hands. The
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field kitchen rations. As the soldier passed along the mess line, food service personnel would dole out hot items first, often meat followed by vegetables, potatoes, and other side dishes, ostensibly separated by the tray dividers. While a soldier could use the handled "Meat can, body" from his kit
217:
Mess tins are generally rectangular with rounded off edges - the rounded edges are easier to clean inside than a sharp corner. Most mess tins are supplied as a set, with one slightly larger than the other, allowing them to nestle together for easy packing. This arrangement is also useful when using
558:
mess kit is a complete package, similar in design to a German mess kit, but larger and oval-shaped. It breaks down into two parts, the first part being a steel stand/windshield/wood-burning stove (with a Svea alcohol burner unit), whilst the other part consists of two pots (usually aluminium). The
537:
forces that consisted of a large main canteen part, and a smaller saucepan component that also doubled as the mess tin lid. The kit also had a wire handle which many soldiers used to hang the mess kit from their web equipment or backpack. This design was supplemented in the mid-1980s with a second
652:
The 1810 (1813 – 14)-model is semicircular or C-shaped in plan view and is made of tinplated iron. The tray of the 1810-model had no handle but nested inside the pan or lower section. The lid covered the pan and had a pull ring for easy removal, but apparently had no other intended
285:
When stored, the "Mess kit, plate" is placed on top of the ovoid "Meat can, body", while the stamped folding handle is folded over the inverse side of the plate's center divider, and latched onto the edge of the body. It is further secured folding the lid's ring toward the center of the mess kit,
277:
The US Army's flat ovoid M-1932 wartime-issue mess kit was made of galvanized steel (stainless steel in the later M-1942), and was a divided pan-and-body system. When opened, the mess kit consisted of two halves: the deeper half forms a shallow, flat-bottom, ovoid "Meat can, body", designed to
242:
While functionally similar to a one-man civilian mess kit, military mess kits are designed to be even more compact, using their space as efficiently as possible. Thus lids will almost always be used for preparing, cooking, and/or eating, and usually come in two or three pieces. As such, it may
692:
Canadian mess equipment was similar to that used by the
British in the first half of the 20th century, i.e., that issued with 1908 and 1937 Pattern Web Equipment. Canada issued its own 1951 Pattern Web Equipment, 1964 Pattern Web Equipment, and 1982 Pattern Web Equipment.
218:
the tins for boiling, as the smaller tin can be used to hold the liquid, with the larger tin placed on top to act as a lid. In order to save weight, some designs stick with a single mess tin with a lid, with the lid often having a secondary role as a frying pan.
389:(Cooking pot model 31) was developed. It was capable of cooking, and held 1.7 liters. With only very minor changes, this model remained in service with the German military (both East and West) as well as with the German disaster relief services (
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the flat "back side" forcing the user to drink from the broadly curved front. The lid was intermediate in depth, could be used as a plate, and set down securely on the pan. The bail was square shaped and the corners were tight curves.
615:
was introduced. This model is a canteen-cup system: a tall, one liter canteen, and a lid; the lid serves as a cup which can be fit inside the canteen, better heating its contents. The 1882 design later formed the basis of the modern
364:
used mess kits that were similar in several ways. In storage, their dimensions were similar to US mess kits, but were split widthwise instead of lengthwise, around two-thirds of the body, creating a pot with handle and a cup.
439:
consisted of a brown kidney-shaped, oval-bottomed, heavy-gauge aluminum rice cooker pot with lid, and an insert tray stored inside the pot. The lid and tray were also used as serving plates. A simplified model, the
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utensil) is included with a
Finnish mess kit instead of a separate fork and spoon set. A lusikkahaarukka therefore cannot be stored inside a Finnish mess tin as it would cause excessive noise in the mess tin.
734:. Kits usually come with either folding handles or a detachable handle which can be used with other cookware. Items are stored compactly by nesting them in other components; the whole kit may be placed in a
400:
stove, which, when folded, could store Esbit pellets and occupy a very small area. The German mess kit was usually held together with a leather strap, which was used to fasten the mess kit to the soldier's
717:
A civilian mess kit, which may serve from one person to a family of eight, is a collection of common kitchen wares designed to be lightweight and easy to store. Such kits are typically constructed from
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144:
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The use of aluminium in mess equipment has been identified as a health hazard, and plastics and disposables have become more common. In particular, the use of
562:
The stove uses small sticks, wood chips, or pine cones as fuel. When using the alcohol burner, the Svea burner unit may advantageously be replaced with a
214:, intended primarily for boiling but also useful for frying. Mess tins were originally a military design, but are also popular among civilian campers.
270:, a canned combat ration with several menu precooked or dried food items. Today, though canned and dried combat rations have further evolved into the
645:
cup rim for drinking. It also permitted the tray to briefly be held over a fire. The corners of the square shaped bail were also more rounded.
611:
was a pot made of tin-plated sheet steel with a lid and handle. It was however later deemed unsuitable and so in 1882 a revised design
210:
is an item in a mess kit, designed to be used over portable cooking apparatus. A mess tin can be thought of as a portable version of a
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310:, units preparing heated combat rations in the "Meat can, body" or canteen cup mainly used locally procured combustible materials or
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115:
376:. Originally, the base held two litres, marked into 1/4 sections, and the lid holding another 1/4. This model replaced the 1850
246:
When in a large camp, it is common for soldiers to use either normal dining ware, or a multi-compartment mess tray similar to a
726:), and cutlery. Utensils usually consist of forks, knives, and spoons, as at home, but may be replaced by specialty items like
298:
To complement the mess kit, soldiers used a stamped cup especially molded to fit over the bottom of the US Army's standard one-
231:
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to the
Japanese one-liter M-94 oval water bottle, which was larger than that issued to the armies of some other nations. The
53:
318:. The latter could be stored within an issued folding stove for deployment when heating food, soup, or coffee in the field.
179:. There are many varieties of mess kits that militaries issue to their personnel that later become available to consumers.
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was useful for carrying the cooked rice. During the Second World War, it was occasionally adopted by members of the
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905:(in Japanese). Plantersville, South Carolina, USA: Small Arms Technical Publishing Company. p. 156.
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709:/fresh rations in the field is often accomplished with disposable mess gear (i.e. paper plates).
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431:), differed from other armies' mess kits in several respects. No attempt was made to conform the
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stove was issued to fit over the cup-and-canteen unit, similar to designs used in other armies.
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In the First World War, the
British Army used a metal, two-piece, kidney shaped mess tin.
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Deutsche
Soldaten: Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45
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for cooking in the field, although with the
British Armed Forces primarily using
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is usually used with the standard issue FireDragon folding burner & fuel.
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Pages where the
Japanese mess kit and foods are mentioned: pp53, 156–157, 207
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was changed to incorporate the 1-inch-wide brace ends of the 1937 gear.
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1908 model was in production until 1940. In 1931, a model later called
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as mentioned above. All models since 1882 were officially designated
311:
943:(2nd ed.). National Rifle Association of America. p. 491.
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sacrifice certain features, or use other features to complement it.
705:(IMP) have become common, with chemical cooking bags. Messing from
987:"Die Kochgeschirre der Schweizer Armee von 1875 bis zur Gegenwart"
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receive the "meat ration", the meat portion of the pre-war canned
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941:
Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal
444:, was introduced later in the war, which lacked the pot insert.
163:
is a collection of silverware and cookware designed for use by
390:
25:
533:
mess kit was a two-piece design similar to that used by the
860:
Departmental Bulletin Paper "Journal of Human Life Design"
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replacement burner, which appears to be more efficient.
455:. In addition to its usefulness as a cooking vessel, the
467:
which had captured Japanese equipment, and later by the
791:. Pennsylvania, USA: Casemate Publishers. p. 142.
413:
1051:"Combination Canteen and Mess Kit (Willis R. Nason)"
396:
They were mainly used in conjunction with a folding
880:
Photo 9 lower right: wartime model from around 1944
352:
camper's mess kit similar to an Imperial Army model
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1009:
1007:
16:Metal set for food transportation and consumption
1077:. United States Patent Office. November 26, 1957
853:"About the History and the Function of Mess Kit"
19:For military uniforms for formal occasions, see
412:The Japanese Army enlisted men's mess kit, or
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892:
890:
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145:Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
8:
372:) was designed in 1908, a modification of a
195:mess tin over freely burning natural gas in
1057:. United States Patent Office. June 9, 1931
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978:
976:
780:
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607:) was originally introduced in 1875. This
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321:After World War II, a specially-designed
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
1000:(3). Verein Schweizer Armeemuseum: 6–16.
877:Photo 8: (the original) hangō, from 1898
874:Photo 7: Type-92 hangō, from around 1932
774:
670:The British Armed Forces generally use
405:in combat order or assault pack of the
266:. After 1938, it was used for the new
1024:(in German). Gamelle: Falscher Name.
7:
54:adding citations to reliable sources
1018:[The gamelle has retired].
866:. Japan: Toyo University: 413–414.
14:
624:, but soldiers kept calling them
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30:
1028:from the original on 2024-06-02
232:Armed Forces of the Philippines
171:. They may also be used during
41:needs additional citations for
230:A closed mess kit used by the
1:
961:: Reprint of the 1947 edition
502:) is almost identical to the
451:s over open fires or cans of
1016:"Die Gamelle hat ausgedient"
1014:Hophan, Franz (2004-02-18).
851:Sakaguchi, Masaharu (2013).
613:Einzelkochgeschirr Ord. 1882
506:, but, unlike the latter, a
393:), which were painted grey.
238:, food tray, canteen and cup
414:
1145:
653:use. The bail was curved.
504:German M31 mess kit design
373:
18:
1071:"Unitary Combat Mess-Kit"
801:– via Google Books.
356:During World War II, the
1075:Patent number: 2,814,380
1055:Patent number: 1,809,596
814:
939:George, John B (1981).
912:2027/mdp.39015013248441
899:George, John B (1947).
250:tray, but much larger.
167:personnel for food and
968:: Newly added chapters
826:(in Japanese). Japan:
785:Saiz, Agustin (2008).
618:German mess kit design
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484:Finnish Defence Forces
374:Swiss design from 1882
362:Japanese Imperial Army
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985:Kruk, Alfred (2010).
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703:Individual Meal Packs
657:1937 Pattern Mess Tin
637:1908 Pattern Mess Tin
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368:The German mess kit (
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902:Shots Fired in Anger
868:(bibliographic imfo:
587:The Swiss mess kit (
553:Swedish Armed Forces
447:The men cooked with
50:improve this article
959:Book I. Guadalcanal
512:(a type of folding
409:in marching order.
329:German and Japanese
143:, displayed at the
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994:VSAM Info Bulletin
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500:kenttäpakki
419: [
382:Essgeschirr
370:Essgeschirr
191:A circular
177:backpacking
137:World War I
1113:Categories
1032:2024-07-07
964:pp417–535
917:HathiTrust
833:2023-05-05
828:Shogakukan
769:References
736:stuff sack
732:chopsticks
724:Sierra cup
688:Historical
579:Swiss Army
514:spoon-fork
494:mess kit (
338:Bundeswehr
149:Pittsburgh
76:newspapers
65:"Mess kit"
21:Mess dress
1103:Mess kits
758:Bento box
720:aluminium
672:mess tins
535:Wehrmacht
469:Viet Minh
403:bread bag
302:(950 ml)
258:Prior to
248:TV dinner
1081:July 11,
1061:July 11,
1026:Archived
957:pp1–415
838:Kotobank
813:"Hangō"
753:Billycan
742:See also
707:hayboxes
683:Canadian
486:mess kit
350:Japanese
340:mess kit
268:C-ration
222:Military
212:saucepan
208:mess tin
183:Mess tin
165:military
161:mess kit
139:and the
763:Dosirak
713:Camping
632:British
626:gamelle
593:gamelle
582:gamelle
564:Trangia
547:Swedish
475:Finnish
348:Modern
304:canteen
236:skillet
201:Romania
173:camping
90:scholar
947:
795:
728:sporks
589:French
358:German
312:Sterno
155:, U.S.
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
990:(PDF)
856:(pdf)
604:]
570:Swiss
457:hangō
449:hangō
437:hangō
433:hangō
423:]
416:hangō
398:Esbit
323:Esbit
300:quart
97:JSTOR
83:books
1083:2012
1063:2012
945:ISBN
793:ISBN
551:The
529:the
490:The
463:and
360:and
175:and
69:news
907:hdl
540:VDV
498:or
391:THW
292:'B'
290:or
288:'A'
272:MRE
147:in
52:by
1115::
1073:.
1053:.
1006:^
998:10
996:.
992:.
975:^
887:^
871:)
858:.
818:.
815:飯盒
777:^
738:.
628:.
602:de
600:;
598:fr
471:.
442:Ro
421:ja
206:A
199:,
159:A
151:,
1085:.
1065:.
1035:.
953:.
919:.
909::
864:9
840:.
427:(
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
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