Ration pack DPR/TV/801

There is nothing like a tasty, solid and nutritious meal to a soldier in action, especially when he can have all this and very little weight to carry. Australian troops may soon experience this following an inspection of a new lightweight, 10-man combat ration by the Minister for the Army, Mr Phillip Lynch, at Army Headquarters today. Explaining the finer points of the new ration to Mr Lynch was Defence Food Scientist, Dr R. C. Hutchinson, who developed the new ration at the Army's Food Science Establishment at Scottsdale, Tas. The pack, which weighs 25 lb, half the weight of the pack at present in use, is made up almost completely of dehydrated, compressed blocks of food requiring only water to turn them into a good meal. Mashed potato; Lamb and green peas; Scrambled eggs; Porridge; And bread mix are only some of the food blocks in the pack, which will feed 10 men for a day. The bread mix block, is converted by adding bi-carbonate of soda and water and then steaming. Two packets of rice, which cooks quickly, three blocks of beef and green beans and two blocks of mashed potato will feed 10 men. The chocolate chip desert is certain to be popular with the troops, and certainly is with Mr Lynch.