(Razione Viveri Speciale da Combattimento)

The Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate) use a ration called the “Special Combat Food Ration” (Razione Viveri Speciale da Combattimento). Each individual ration is enough food for one soldier for one day. A single ration is approximately 30 cm x 23 cm x 10.5 cm with a weight of 2.3 kg.Each meal bag contains three boxes – one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for supper/dinner. These rations use canned food instead of the retort pouches seen in the US, British, and Canadian rations.

Italian combat rations come in seven different menus, called “Modules”, which are labeled A through G. Each Module is also assigned a color, which is indicated on the meal bag by a sticker of that color. See the menu listing below for a list of the modules and colors. The official NATO code for these rations is 8905-15-147-6202.

Italian rations have a “Use by” date that is two years after the ration is produced. So a ration such as the one in the pictures below (see “Ration Label” picture) which was produced in December, 2002, is best used by December, 2004.

Front of ration Back of ration Ration label Description on back



Italian ration vs. U.S. MRE and vs. German EPa

Alcohol ration

Two of the seven Italian ration modules (B and F) contain an item called “Cordiale/bevanda alcolica”, or Cordial/alcoholic beverage. This is a 3 cl “shot” of a brandy-like liquor in a plastic bottle. The specification for this particular ration item say it must be no less than 70 proof (40°) alcohol and “Its appearance should be clear, pale yellow amber, with a pleasing smell and taste.”

Italian Combat Rations – 2007 Menu

Meal Module A Yellow Module B Red Module C Gray Module D Green Module E White Module F Pink Module G Blue Breakfast Biscuits, sweet Fruit jelly Sweetened Condensed Milk Coffee Chocolate bar Sugar Water purification tablets Cereal & chocolate bar Fruit Jam Cappuccino Tea, sweetened Cordial, alcohol Sugar Water purification tablets Biscuits, sweet Fruit jelly Sweetened Condensed Milk Coffee Chocolate bar Sugar Water purification tablets Biscuits, sweet Fruit Jam Cappuccino Tea, sweetened Chocolate bars Sugar Water purification tablets Cereal & chocolate bar Fruit jelly Sweetened Condensed Milk Coffee Chocolate bar Sugar Water purification tablets Biscuits, sweet Fruit Jam Capuccino Tea, sweetened Cordial, alcohol Sugar Water purification tablets Biscuits, sweet Fruit jelly Sweetened Condensed Milk Coffee Chocolate bars Sugar Water purification tablets Lunch Tortellini in sauce Beef, canned Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Pasta and beans Turkey, canned Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Tortellini in sauce Sausage, canned Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Ravioli in sauce Tuna and peas Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Ravioli in sauce Pork, canned Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Minestrone Beef, canned Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Tortellini in sauce Sausage, canned Crackers Mixed fruit Vitamin tablets Coffee Bran crackers Sugar Dinner Minestrone Tuna in oil Crackers Coffee Sugar Fruit cereal bars Rice salad Beef slices Crackers Coffee Sugar Energy bar Pasta and beans Mackerel in oil Crackers Coffee Sugar Fruit cereal bars Minestrone Beef, canned Crackers Coffee Sugar Fruit cereal bars Pasta and beans Chicken, canned Crackers Coffee Sugar Fruit cereal bars Ravioli in sauce Tuna with beans Crackers Coffee Sugar Fruit cereal bars Rice salad Turkey, canned Crackers Coffee Sugar Eenergy bar Accessories (per Module): 3 x disposable toothbrushes for dental hygiene 1 x box of matches 6 x towelettes 3 x toothpicks 3 x trash bags 1 x salt packet 1 x camp stove6 x fuel tablets 2 x plastic cutlery (one for lunch and one for dinner) 1 x plastic spoon for breakfast 1 x instruction sheet Packaging: – Primary: cardboard boxes for food – Secondary: vacuum-sealed bags.

Official Menus in Italian

2007 Menu and accessories 2003 Menu 2001 Menu 2000 Menu



Links: Official Italian Minitry of Defence combat rations information

PDF copy of latest official rations technical specifications: Razione viveri da combattimento (edizione 2007) – S.T.314/U.I.

Sample Italian Combat Ration

Module G, the individual meal boxes contained within, and the contents of one of the boxes

Sample lunch and supper

Labeling

Prior to 2004, all Italian Combat Rations were labeled in both Italian and English. However, starting in 2004, they removed the English from the packages:

2002 Ration 2004 Ration 2002/2004 rations side by side

1998 Module B Contents

Meal bag, boxes inside

Breakfast Lunch Supper

Misc. Italian Combat Rations Pictures



Credits: Thanks to the following people and sites for information and pictures – Beppo, Housil, Juifahrer, Namachan/Adventure-World, Die Kampfzuteilung