K ration

K Ration

The K Ration was an individual daily combat food ration which was introduced by the United States Army during World War II. It was originally intended as an individually packaged daily ration for issue to airborne troops, tank crews, motorcycle couriers, and other mobile forces for short durations. The K Ration provided three separately boxed meal units: Breakfast, Dinner and Supper.

History

The K Ration was developed in 1941 by Dr. Ancel Keys, a physiologist at the University of Minnesota, hence the name "K" ration. The goal was to create a ration that was lightweight, would not spoil, and could be eaten without preparation. The ration was tested in various climates and conditions, proving to be an effective source of nutrition for soldiers in the field.

Components

Each K Ration meal came in a small, rectangular cardboard box, color-coded for the meal time: Breakfast (orange-red), Dinner (olive green), and Supper (dark blue). The contents of the meals varied, but generally included items such as canned meat, cheese, biscuits, a fruit bar, sugar tablets, and a packet of instant coffee or lemon juice powder.

Legacy

The K Ration was replaced in 1958 by the Meal, Combat, Individual ration (MCI Ration), which was later replaced by the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) in 1981. Despite its discontinuation, the K Ration has left a lasting impact on military ration design and has become a symbol of the American soldier's experience in World War II.

See also

• C Ration
• D Ration
• List of military food topics