Mess kit
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2008) |
Amess kitis a collection of silverware and cookware designed for use bymilitarypersonnel for food andmilitary rations.They may also be used duringcampingandbackpacking.There are many varieties of mess kits that militaries issue to their personnel that later become available to consumers.
Mess tin
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Amess tinis 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 asaucepan,intended primarily for boiling but also useful for frying. Mess tins were originally a military design, but are also popular among civilian campers.
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 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.
Military
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Open_mess_kit.jpg/220px-Open_mess_kit.jpg)
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 sacrifice certain features, or use other features to complement it.
When in a large camp, it is common for soldiers to use either normal dining ware, or a multi-compartment mess tray similar to aTV dinnertray, but much larger.
United States
[edit]Prior toWorld War II,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 cannedReserve Ration.After 1938, it was used for the newC-ration,a canned combat ration with several menu precooked or dried food items. Today, though canned and dried combat rations have further evolved into theMRE,these can now be self-heated, and thus only a containment tray is required for most units.
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 receive the "meat ration", the meat portion of the pre-war cannedReserve Ration.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.
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, 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'A'or'B'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 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.
To complement the mess kit, soldiers used a stamped cup especially molded to fit over the bottom of the US Army's standard one-quart(950 ml)canteen.This cup could be used to boil water for coffee, or for heating or reconstituting soup or other foods. DuringWorld War II,units preparing heated combat rations in the "Meat can, body" or canteen cup mainly used locally procured combustible materials orSternofuel units ofjellied alcohol.The latter could be stored within an issued folding stove for deployment when heating food, soup, or coffee in the field.
After World War II, a specially-designedEsbitstove was issued to fit over the cup-and-canteen unit, similar to designs used in other armies.
German and Japanese
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During World War II, theGermanandJapanese Imperial Armyused 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.
The German mess kit (Essgeschirr) was designed in 1908, a modification of aSwiss design from 1882.[citation needed]Originally, the base held two litres, marked into 1/4 sections, and the lid holding another 1/4. This model replaced the 1850Kochgeschirr.The new 1908Essgeschirrwas 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 1908 model was in production until 1940. In 1931, a model later calledKochgeschirr 31(Cooking pot model 31)[1]was developed. It was capable of cooking, and held 1.7 liters.[1]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 (THW), which were painted grey.
They were mainly used in conjunction with a foldingEsbitstove, 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'sbread bagin combat order or assault pack of thewebbing equipmentin marching order.
The Japanese Army enlisted men's mess kit, orhangō(rice container),[2]differed from other armies' mess kits in several respects. No attempt was made to conform thehangōto the Japanese one-liter M-94 oval water bottle, which was larger than that issued to the armies of some other nations. Thehangōconsisted of a brown kidney-shaped, oval-bottomed, heavy-gauge aluminum rice cooker pot with lid, and an insert tray stored inside the pot.[3]The lid and tray were also used as serving plates.[4]A simplified model, theRo,was introduced later in the war, which lacked the pot insert.
The men cooked withhangōs over open fires or cans ofjellied alcohol.[4]In addition to its usefulness as a cooking vessel, thehangōwas useful for carrying the cooked rice.[4]: 207 During the Second World War, it was occasionally adopted by members of theUnited States Army[4]andChinese Army[5]which had captured Japanese equipment, and later by theViet Minh.
Finnish
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TheFinnish Defence Forcesmess kit (kenttäkeittoastiaorkenttäpakki) is almost identical to theGerman M31 mess kit design,but, unlike the latter, alusikkahaarukka(a type of foldingspoon-forkutensil) 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.
Soviet/Russian
[edit]During theSecond World WartheSoviet Armymess kit was a two-piece design similar to that used by theWehrmachtforces 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 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 "VDVtype ". 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 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.
Swedish
[edit]TheSwedish Armed ForcesKokkärl m/1940mess 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 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.
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 aTrangiareplacement burner, which appears to be more efficient.
Swiss
[edit]The Swiss mess kit (Frenchgamelle ) was originally introduced in 1875. ThisRunde Gamelle 1875was a pot made of tin-plated sheet steel with a lid and handle.[6]: 7 It was however later deemed unsuitable and so in 1882 a revised designEinzelkochgeschirr Ord. 1882was introduced.[7]This model is a canteen-cup system: a tall, one liter canteen,[6]: 8 and a lid; the lid serves as a cup which can be fit inside the canteen, better heating its contents.[6]: 8 The 1882 design later formed the basis of the modernGerman mess kit designas mentioned above. All models since 1882 were officially designatedEinzelkochgeschirr,but soldiers kept calling themgamelle.[7]
British
[edit]1908 Pattern Mess Tin
[edit]In the First World War, the British Army used a metal, two-piece, kidney shaped mess tin.
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 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.
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 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.
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 use. The bail was curved.
1937 Pattern Mess Tin
[edit]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 was changed to incorporate the 1-inch-wide brace ends of the 1937 gear.
Contemporary
[edit]The British Armed Forces generally usemess tinsfor cooking in the field, although with the British Armed Forces primarily usingBoil in the Bagrations, 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 is usually used with the standard issue FireDragon folding burner & fuel.
Canadian
[edit]Historical
[edit]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.
Contemporary
[edit]The use of aluminium in mess equipment has been identified as a health hazard[citation needed],and plastics and disposables have become more common. In particular, the use ofIndividual Meal Packs(IMP) have become common, with chemical cooking bags. Messing fromhayboxes/fresh rations in the field is often accomplished with disposable mess gear (i.e. paper plates).
Camping
[edit]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 fromaluminium,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 aSierra cup), and cutlery. Utensils usually consist of forks, knives, and spoons, as at home, but may be replaced by specialty items likesporksor foldingchopsticks.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 astuff sack.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abSaiz, Agustin (2008).Deutsche Soldaten: Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45.Pennsylvania, USA: Casemate Publishers. p. 142.ISBN9781932033960– via Google Books.
- ^"Hangō"Phạn hạp.Tinh tuyển bản nhật bổn quốc ngữ đại từ điển (Nihon Kokugo DaijitenConcise edition)(in Japanese). Japan:Shogakukan.Retrieved2023-05-05– viaKotobank.
- ^Sakaguchi, Masaharu (2013)."About the History and the Function of Mess Kit"(pdf).Departmental Bulletin Paper "Journal of Human Life Design"(in Japanese).9.Japan: Toyo University: 413–414.(bibliographic imfo:[1])
- Photo 7: Type-92 hangō, from around 1932
- Photo 8: (the original) hangō, from 1898
- Photo 9 lower right: wartime model from around 1944
- ^abcdGeorge, John B (1947).Shots Fired in Anger(in Japanese). Plantersville, South Carolina, USA: Small Arms Technical Publishing Company. p. 156.hdl:2027/mdp.39015013248441– viaHathiTrust.
- Pages where the Japanese mess kit and foods are mentioned: pp53, 156–157, 207
- ^George, John B (1981).Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal(2nd ed.). National Rifle Association of America. p. 491.ISBN978-0935998429.
- pp1–415Book I. Guadalcanal:Reprint of the 1947 edition
- pp417–535Book II. Burma:Newly added chapters
- ^abcKruk, Alfred (2010)."Die Kochgeschirre der Schweizer Armee von 1875 bis zur Gegenwart"(PDF).VSAM Info Bulletin.10(3). Verein Schweizer Armeemuseum: 6–16.
- ^abHophan, Franz (2004-02-18)."Die Gamelle hat ausgedient"[The gamelle has retired].SWI swissinfo(in German). Gamelle: Falscher Name.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-06-02.Retrieved2024-07-07.
Further reading
[edit]- "Combination Canteen and Mess Kit (Willis R. Nason)".Patent number: 1,809,596.United States Patent Office. June 9, 1931.RetrievedJuly 11,2012.[dead link]
- "Unitary Combat Mess-Kit".Patent number: 2,814,380.United States Patent Office. November 26, 1957.RetrievedJuly 11,2012.
External links
[edit]Media related toMess kitsat Wikimedia Commons