Boiling vessel facts for kids

A boiling vessel is a special heating system found in British army vehicles. It lets soldiers heat water and cook food right inside their vehicle! It uses power from the vehicle's electricity. Soldiers often joke that it's "the most important piece of equipment" in their vehicle.

Boiling Vessel on Display at the National Army Museum

History of the Boiling Vessel

How it Started

The "Vessel Boiling Electric," or "BV" for short, was a new idea at the very end of World War II. The first Centurion tank had one built inside. Before this, British tank crews had to get out of their tanks to "brew-up" (make tea). They used a simple cooker made from old fuel cans, called a "Benghazi burner".

Having the BV meant crews could stay safe inside their tank. It also made breaks much quicker!

BV Models and Use

The first BV, called VBE No 1, was updated in the early 1950s. The new version, No 2, was made of stainless steel. A later version, VBE No 3, had better electrical parts and leaked less often.

Since the Centurion tank, every new British tank has had a BV. In the 1960s, the BV was also added to the FV432 armoured personnel carrier. This was for the soldiers riding inside. Today, almost every main type of vehicle used by the British Army has a BV.

What the Boiling Vessel Does Today

Main Uses

The main job of the BV is to heat up food pouches or tins. The hot water is also used for making drinks or for washing. The BV is shaped like a box and can hold four tins. This usually matches the number of soldiers in an armoured vehicle. Food tins come without paper labels so they don't make the water dirty.

If a vehicle's BV is broken, the vehicle is considered "unfit for purpose." This means it cannot be used for its job.

Modern BV Details

The BV is now called "Cooking Vessel FV706656" or "CV." It runs on the vehicle's 24 Volt electrical system. It is made by Electrothermal Engineering Ltd in Rochford, Essex.

Many British Army vehicles use the BV. These include Challenger 2 tanks, MAN trucks, and armoured vehicles like the Warrior, Warthog, Mastiff, Jackal, and Foxhound. Older CVR(T) and CVR(W) vehicles also have them.

It's common for the newest or youngest soldier in a vehicle crew to be called the "BV Commander." This person is in charge of making hot drinks for the other soldiers.

Similar heaters are also used in many US army vehicles. They are called "Heater, Water & Rations" (HWR).