The\u00a0C-Ration<\/b>, or\u00a0Type C ration<\/b>, was an individual canned, pre-cooked, and prepared wet ration. It was intended to be issued to U.S. military land forces when fresh food (A-ration<\/a>) or packaged unprepared food (B-ration<\/a>) prepared in mess halls or field kitchens was not possible or not available, and when a survival ration (K-ration<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0D-ration<\/a>) was insufficient. Development began in 1938 with the first rations being field tested in 1940 and wide-scale adoption following soon after. Operational conditions often caused the C-ration to be standardized for field issue regardless of environmental suitability or weight limitations.<\/em><\/p>\n The C-Ration was replaced in 1958 with the\u00a0Meal Combat Individual (MCI)<\/a>.[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Although officially a new ration, the MCI was derived from and very similar to the original C-Ration, and in fact continued to be called “C-Rations” by American troops throughout its production life as a combat ration (1958\u20131980).[1]<\/a><\/sup>Although the replacement for the MCI, the\u00a0MRE<\/a>, was formally adopted as the Department of Defense combat ration in 1975, the first large-scale production test did not occur until in 1978 with the first MRE I rations packed and delivered in 1981.[2]<\/a><\/sup>[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0While the MRE officially replaced the MCI in 1981, previously packed MCI rations continued to be issued until depleted.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" C Rations were military issued meals, with a combination of canned (wet) and dry food. Wikipedia states: The\u00a0C-Ration, or\u00a0Type C ration, was an individual canned, pre-cooked, and prepared wet ration. It was intended to be issued to U.S. military land forces when fresh food (A-ration) or packaged unprepared food (B-ration) prepared in mess halls or … Continue reading C Rations<\/span> ![\"A](\"https:\/\/brooksidepress.org\/cartmell\/wp-content\/uploads\/Crations-museumdisplay-300x177.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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