LRP ration facts for kids
The Food Packet, Long Range Patrol or "LRP ration" (pronounced "lurp") was a special kind of field food used by the U.S. Army. It was made using a process called freeze-drying, which removes all the water from food. This made the food very light.
The LRP ration was created in 1964 during the Vietnam War (1955–1975). It was designed for special soldiers called Long Range Patrol teams. These small teams went deep into enemy areas. They needed food that was light because they carried everything on their backs. Regular canned rations, like the "C-Ration," were too heavy for these long missions.
Contents
Why Lightweight Food Was Needed
Before World War II, army leaders knew that heavy canned food was not good for soldiers on long patrols. This was especially true in tough places like mountains or jungles. So, during World War II, they made a "Jungle ration." This was a light, dry meal that soldiers could carry easily. It also stayed good in hot, wet weather. The Jungle ration gave soldiers lots of energy, which was perfect for walking long distances with heavy gear. People thought the Jungle ration worked well. But it cost too much, so it was stopped in 1943.
After the war, the U.S. Army went back to using heavy canned rations. These included the "C-Ration" and the "Meal, Combat, Individual" (MCI). During the early years of the Vietnam War, these heavy rations became a big problem. Soldiers on long patrols sometimes had to put their canned food in socks just to make it easier to carry and quieter!
Developing the LRP Ration
Because of these problems, the "Food Packet, Individual, Combat" (FPIC) was developed in the early 1960s. It was first used in 1966. This new ration was meant to be healthy, light, and easy to carry. It was similar to the dehydrated food used by NASA astronauts.
Carrying too much heavy food made special operations teams slow. It also made them tired by midday. Being tired meant they were less alert and more likely to make mistakes. The LRP ration was designed to fix this. Each packet weighed about 11 ounces (312 grams). This was a good balance between being very light and providing enough food.
The LRP ration was different from the standard MCI ration. It was freeze-dried and vacuum-packed in a waterproof canvas bag. This bag had an aluminum foil lining. However, it could spoil in wet places like Southeast Asia. So, later versions came in an outer plastic bag to keep moisture out. This problem made it less ideal for everyday use by all soldiers.
What Was Inside the LRP Ration
In the mid-1960s, LRP rations came in a big box with 24 meals. There were eight different types of meals:
- Beef hash
- Beef and rice
- Beef stew
- Chicken and rice
- Chicken stew
- Chili con carne
- Pork and scalloped potatoes
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
Each meal was in a foil packet covered with olive-drab cloth. There was also a brown-foil accessory packet. This packet usually had:
- Two packets of instant coffee
- One packet of cream substitute
- One packet of sugar
- One packet of salt
- Two pieces of Candy-Coated Gum
- Toilet paper
- A small book of matches
- A pack of four cigarettes (these were removed in 1975)
Each meal also included either a compressed fruitcake bar or a tropical chocolate bar. Even though the LRP ration was small, it didn't provide as much energy as the MCI ration. It had about 1,200 fewer calories per day.
Challenges with the LRP Ration
Since the LRP ration was freeze-dried, it needed about 1.5 pints (710 milliliters) of water to cook it. This was fine if there was plenty of clean water. But in Vietnam, water sources often had parasites and viruses. So, the water had to be boiled or mixed with iodine tablets. Iodine tablets made the water taste bad. Soldiers could also collect rainwater or, in an emergency, eat the ration dry. But eating it dry meant they had to drink extra water to avoid getting dehydrated.
Some soldiers mixed their LRP rations with canned C-Rations. They did this to make the food more interesting and to get more energy. However, this defeated the main purpose of the LRP ration, which was to be lightweight. Another common complaint was that the LRP rations didn't include cigarettes, which were found in C-rations.
The LRP Ration's Special Role
Because of these issues, the LRP ration was not given to all soldiers. Instead, it was mostly used by special units like Long Range Patrols, Special Forces, and Navy SEALs. It then got its new name: Food Packet, Long Range Patrol (LRP). Soldiers often called them "Lurp meals" or "long rats."
Only a limited number of these rations were made. About five million units were produced in 1967, and nine million in 1968. Regular soldiers often tried to get these rations for themselves before going on missions because they were considered a special item.
The LRP ration continued to be used in small amounts until the mid-1980s. Then, a new type of ration called the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) replaced it. The MRE was meant to be used in all combat situations.
Improvements to the LRP Ration
While the MRE was lighter than the canned MCI and had more energy than the LRP ration, it still had some problems. U.S. Special Operations forces found it too bulky. Also, some MRE meals were hard to digest in very cold or very hot and humid places. Soldiers sometimes removed items they didn't think they needed, but this also lowered the meal's energy content. These issues led to the need for a special ration for light troops on long missions.
In 1994, a new and better version of the LRP ration was created. It was called the LRP-I (Food Packet, Long-Range Patrol - Improved). This ration weighed about 11 ounces (312 grams) and came in a brown plastic pouch. Soldiers could add water and cook the meal right inside the pouch. This was a big improvement because the older LRP packets had to be cooked in a separate cup or pot.
| Long Range Patrol Ration - Improved (1994-2001) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Main Dish | Cereal Bar | Dessert 1 | Dessert 2 | Drink | |
| Menu 1 | Chicken Stew | Cornflake Bar | Oatmeal Cookie Bar | Candy Toffee Roll, Chocolate (4 pieces) | Apple Cider Drink | |
| Menu 2 | Beef Stew | Granola Bar | Chocolate-Covered Cookie | Caramels | Hot Cocoa Beverage | |
| Menu 3 | Sweet & Sour Pork | Branflake Bar | Peanut Butter & Crackers | Apple Cider Drink | ||
| Menu 4 | Chicken Ala King | Branflake Bar | Chocolate-Covered Cookie | Hard Candies | Powdered Orange Drink | |
| Menu 5 | Lasagna | Branflake Bar | Peanut Butter & Crackers | Lemon Tea (2 packets) | ||
| Menu 6 | Spaghetti with Meat Sauce | Cornflake Bar | Oatmeal Cookie Bar | Candy Toffee Roll, Chocolate (4 pieces) | Beverage Base (Bouillon Powder) | |
| Menu 7 | Chili Con Carne | Granola Bar | Fig Bar | Hard Candies | Powdered Orange Drink | |
| Menu 8 | Beef and Rice | Cornflake Bar | Fig Bar | Chocolate-Covered Discs, (2 pieces) | Lemon Tea (2 packets) | |
In 2001, the LRP-I was combined with another ration called the "Meal, Cold-Weather" (MCW). This created the "MCW/LRP ration." This was done to make supplying food easier and to save money. Both were seen as small, high-energy meals for active soldiers. This combined meal weighs about 1 pound (454 grams) and comes with 12 different main dishes.
The only difference between the MCW/LRP meals is their accessory packs. One pack is for soldiers in warm or hot places and comes in brown or tan packaging. The other is for cold weather or high places and comes in white packaging.
