British Army 24-Hour Operational Ration Pack

The British Army use a ration called the 24-Hour Operational Ration Pack. Previous versions of this ration were called the ration packs (GS for General Service). Those rations included a lot of food in cans. By 1999, the GS rations were phased out and the newer GP (General Purpose) ration packs became the primary operational ration pack. Each pack contains up to 4,000 calories - the recommended daily consumption is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men - and is designed to feed a young man aged 18 to 30 who has been involved in active operational duty.

Features of the 24-Hour operational ration pack are:

• An individual ration for normal use in the field
• Ration is designed to feed one person for one day
• It has been designed to provide a balanced nutritional diet
• Can be eaten hot or cold
• ORP provides an average of 4000 Kcal per ration
• Ration is 10% protein, no more than 35% fat, 55% carbohydrate
• Continuous consumption up to 15 days, ideally no longer than 30 days
• Hot meals in flexible foil pouches
• Rations packed in waterproof outer cardboard boxes
• All ORPs have a shelf life of at least 3 years

The breakfast, main meal and dessert rations are of the boil-in-a-bag (retort pouch) variety and can be heated up by submerging them in boiling water heated up on a Hexamine Stove. The soup and drinks are in instant and/or powdered form.
British soldiers are issued Hexamine stoves, (NOT included in the Ration Packs) also called Tommy Cookers. These pocket-sized, foldable, solid fuel metal stoves use blocks of hexamine for fuel. These stoves be can used to heat up water for coffee/tea and to warm up the entrees. They also come with an adapter to hold a metal mug/canteen cup. These stoves are similar in design to the European Esbit stoves but are larger and come with different fuel.