C - ration The C - Ration , or Type 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 field kitchens was impractical or not available , and when a survival ration ( K - ration or D - ration ) 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 . The C ration was replaced in 1958 with the Meal Combat Individual ( MCI ) . Although 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 – 1980 ) . Although the replacement for the MCI , the MRE , 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 . While the MRE officially replaced the MCI in 1981 , previously packed MCI rations continued to be issued until depleted . Background and Development . " Iron Ration " ( 1907 - 1922 ) . The first U . S attempt to make an individual ration for issue to soldiers in the field was the " iron ration " , first introduced in 1907 . It consisted of three cakes ( made from a concoction of beef boullion powder and parched and cooked wheat ) , three bars of sweetened chocolate , and packets of salt and pepper . The ration was issued in a sealed tin packet that weighed one pound , to be carried in infantrymans ' top tunic pocket , and was designed for emergency use when the troops were unable to be supplied with food . It was later discontinued by the adoption of the " Reserve Ration " , but findings from the development and use of the Iron Ration went into the development of the emergency D - ration . " Reserve Ration " ( 1917 - 1937 ) . The Reserve Ration was a ration issued during the latter part of World War I to feed troops who were away from a garrison or field kitchen . It originally consisted of of bacon or one pound of meat ( usually canned corned beef ) , two cans of hard bread or hardtack biscuits , a packet of of pre - ground coffee , a packet of of granulated sugar , and a packet of of salt . There was also a separate " tobacco ration " of of tobacco and 10 cigarette rolling papers , later replaced by brand - name machine - rolled cigarettes . After the war , there were attempts to improve the ration based on input from the field . In 1922 , the ration was reorganized to consist of 1 pound of meat ( usually beef jerky ) , of canned corned beef or chocolate , of hard bread or hardtack biscuits , coffee and sugar . In 1925 , the meat ration was replaced with canned pork and beans . In 1936 , there was an attempt at variety by having an " A " - menu of corned beef and a " B " - menu of pork and beans . This was cancelled upon introduction of the new Field Ration , Type C , in 1938 . Field Ration , Type C ( 1938 - 1945 ) . The original Type C ration , commonly known as the C ration , was intended to replace the Reserve Ration as a short - term individual ration designed for infrequent use , to be supplemented by the D - ration emergency ration . Development of a replacement for the Reserve Ration was undertaken by the newly formed Quartermaster Subsistence Research and Development Laboratory in Chicago in 1938 with the aim of producing a ration that was more palatable , nutritionally balanced , and had better keeping qualities . The first Type C ration consisted of a ( reduced to after being field tested during the 1940 Louisiana maneuvers ) ' meat ' unit ( M - unit ) . In the initial Type C ration , there were only three variations of the main course : meat and beans , meat and potato hash , or meat and vegetable stew . Also issued was one bread - and - dessert can , or B - unit . Each daily ration ( i . e . enough food for one soldier for one day ) consisted of six cans ( three M - units and three B - units ) , while an individual meal consisted of one M - unit and one B - unit . The original oblong can was replaced with the more common cylindrical design in June 1939 due to mass production issues with this shape of can . The C ration can was about tall and in diameter . It was made of non - corrugated tinplate , had a visible tin solder seam , and incorporated an opening strip . A key for use on the opening strip was soldered to the base of every B unit can . The first C ration cans had an aluminized finish , but in late 1940 , this was changed to a gold lacquer finish to improve corrosion resistance . Note that there is noticeable variation in the depth of gold color in World War II vintage cans , because of the large number of suppliers involved . Late in the war this was changed to drab green paint , which remained standard through the remainder of the C - ration ’ s service life , as well as that of its ( very similar ) successor , the Meal Combat Individual ( MCI ) . During the war , soldiers frequently requested that the cylindrical cans be replaced with flat , rectangular ones ( similar to a sardine can ) , comparable to those used in the earliest versions of contemporary K ration s , because of their compactness and packability ; but this was deemed impractical because of the shortage of commercial machinery available to produce rectangular cans . After 1942 the K ration too , reverted to the use of small round cans . Initially , C ration cans were marked only with paper labels , which soon fell off and made a guessing game out of evening meals ; US soldiers and Marines receiving an unpopular menu item several nights in a row often found themselves powerless to bargain for a more palatable one . The C ration was , in general , not well liked by U . S . Army or Marine forces in World War II , who found the cans heavy and cumbersome , and the menu monotonous after a short period of exposure . There were also inevitable problems with product consistency given the large number of suppliers involved and the pressures of wartime production . When issued to British or other Commonwealth forces formerly issued hardtack and bully beef - type rations , the C ration was initially accepted , but monotony also became a chief complaint after a few days of consumption . Australian forces tended to dislike the C ration , finding the canned food items generally bland , overly soft in texture , and unappealing . Originally intended only for infrequent use , the exigencies of combat sometimes forced supply authorities to make the C ration the only source of sustenance for several weeks in succession . In 1943 , a ration board reviewing medical examinations of soldiers after long - term use of Type C rations recommended that they be restricted to a maximum of five continuous days in the absence of supplementation with other rations . While the initial specification was officially declared obsolete in 1945 , and production of all Type C rations ended in 1958 , existing stockpiles of both original and revised Type C rations continued to be issued to troops serving in Korea and even as late as the Vietnam War . A Marine tank commander serving in Vietnam in 1968 noted his unit was frequently supplied with older stocks of C rations , complete with early 1950s dates on the cans . The " M " Unit . The M - unit contained a canned entrée originally made of stew meat ( a mixture of beef and pork ) seasoned with salt , various spices , and chopped onions . They initially came in three varieties : Meat Hash , Meat Stew with Vegetables ( carrots and potatoes ) , and Meat Stew with Beans . The commonplace nature of the menu was intentional , and designed to duplicate the menu items ( hash , stews , etc . ) soldiers were normally served as A or B rations in Army mess halls . Another new menu item , " Meat & Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce " was added in 1943 . In late 1944 Chopped Ham , Egg , and Potato ; Meat and Noodles ; Pork and Rice ; Frankfurters and Beans ; Pork and Beans ; Ham and Lima Beans ; and Chicken and Vegetables were introduced in an attempt to increase the C rations ' period of continuous use , while the unpopular Meat Hash and equally unpopular experimental " Mutton Stew with Vegetables " meal were dropped . In the final revision , " Beef Stew with Vegetables " was added in 1945 . By all accounts , after the meat hash and mutton stew , the Ham and Lima Beans entree was the most unpopular ; despite continued negative field reports , it unaccountably remained a standard entree item not only during World War II , but also during the Korean War and Vietnam War . The " B " Unit . The B - unit ( bread and dessert portion ) contained 5 crackers - hardtack biscuits similar to saltine crackers , 3 sugar tablets , 3 dextrose energy tablets , and a packet or small can of beverage mix ( instant coffee , powdered synthetic lemon drink , containing the rations ' main source of vitamin C ; or boullion soup powder ) . Later revisions added orange drink powder ( 1944 ) , sweetened cocoa powder ( 1944 ) , and grape drink powder ( 1945 ) , all enriched with Vitamin C , to the list of beverages . In 1941 , the energy tablets were replaced with loose candy , such as candy - coated peanuts or raisins , Charms hard candy , or Brachs Chocolate Caramels . Due to spoilage , the loose candy was replaced in 1944 with a chocolate disk ( e . g . Brach ' s Fudge disk ) or a cookie sandwich ( e . g . , Jim Dandee ) and the number of biscuits was reduced to 4 . Another B - unit , consisting of pre - mixed oatmeal cereal , was introduced in 1944 as a breakfast ration that was usually paired with the " Ham , Egg , and Potato " Meal . The accessory pack . Originally , the accessories and condiments were put in a can . However , their bulk led to the development of an accessory package . The brown butcher paper accessory pack contained sugar tablets , halazone water purification tablets ( for a brief period in 1945 ) , a flat wooden spoon , a piece of candy - coated chewing gum , 3 " short " sample 3 - packs or one " long " sample 9 - pack of commercial - grade cigarettes and a book of 20 cardboard moisture - resistant matches , a paper - wrapped P - 38 can opener printed with instructions for its proper use , and several sheets of toilet paper . The P - 38 can openers were generally worn on the GI ' s " dog tag " chain to facilitate opening the next meal ' s cans . In 1945 , the accessory pack was modified . Per the order of the Surgeon General , the halazone tablets were removed and salt tablets were added . Also , feedback from the field revealed that soldiers who smoked often opened up accessory packs just to get the cigarettes and threw away the rest of the items . To reduce waste , the accessory pack was now divided into the " short " pack with cigarettes and matches and the " long " pack containing the other accessories . Cigarette brands issued included " Camel , Chelsea , Chesterfield , Craven " A " - Brand , Lucky Strikes , Old Gold , Philip Morris , Player ' s , Raleigh , and Wings " . Crates . The rations came packed in a small rectangular wooden crate that weighed 40 lbs . and had a volume of 1 . 12 Cubic Feet . Each crate contained 8 daily rations of 3 meals each for a total of 24 " M " units , 24 " B " units , and 24 accessory packs . Early rations came with a variety of 8 " Meat and Beans " , 8 " Meat & Vegetable Hash " , and 8 " Meat & Vegetable Stew " " M " units and 24 " B " units . Later rations ( c . 1944 - 1945 ) added a breakfast meal of 8 " Chopped Ham , Egg , & Potato " " M " - units and 8 " Compressed Cereal " " B " - units in place of the " Meat and Vegetable Hash " . Alternate " M " - unit menu items came packed in cases of 24 " M " units ( and 24 " B " units ) rather than a mixed 8 - 8 - 8 menu like the main items . Field Ration , Type E ( 1946 - 1948 ) . After World War II there was an attempt to combine the best features of the C - ration and the K - ration into a new individual ration . Called the E - ration , it was for all intents and purposes the same canned C - ration , with the addition of some new components . In field testing , the bread component of the E - ration was found to be so unpalatable that the E - ration was quickly dropped from classification and inventory . Ration , Individual , Combat , Type C , ( Revised ) ( 1948 - 1958 ) . After the failure of the E - Ration , ration planners decided to save costs by returning to the basic C - ration designation , intermittently revised with new menus and item specifications . Type C - 2 ration ( 1948 - 1951 ) . The C - 2 ration was described in TB - QM - 53 , Department of the Army , dated March , 1948 , as an individual ration which consisted of packaged pre - cooked foods which could be eaten hot or cold . It replaced the World War II C ration , and later , the E ration . It could be carried and prepared by the individual soldier . The revised C ration was now intended for feeding combat troops continuously up to three weeks ( 21 days ) . Due to the required individual portability of this ration , maximum nourishment had to be provided in the smallest physical unit . The components of this ration were prepared in five different menus . Each menu included an accessory packet which consisted of essential toilet articles , tobacco , and confections . Type C - 3 ration ( 1951 - 1953 ) . In 1951 , a new C - 3 menu for the Type C ration was introduced . The C - 3 ration was composed of the same five menus of the C - 2 , but offered greater variety . In addition to new and improved “ B ” ( bread ) and “ M ” ( meat ) units , each menu contained an accessory packet , fruit , and cigarettes . The ration was very heavy , weighing 5 lbs . 8 . 5 oz . , 2 . 5 kg , and was packed in 8 small cans . Field cooking equipment was not required for the preparation of this ration . The C - 3 ration was more adequate than the original C ration in respect to its nutritional value . Type C - 4 ration ( 1954 - 1958 ) . In 1954 , the C - 4 ration was developed as a modification of the C - 3 ration , and was called Ration , Combat , Individual . It included the issue of two cans of fruit for 2 meals to replace the one can issued for one meal in the C - 3 ration . Sample C - 4 ration contents . A sample C - 4 ration ( stamped March 1954 ) contained : End of the C - Ration . At its introduction , the QMC stated that the Type C ration was intended for short - term use for periods not to exceed three days . After the war , in light of field evaluation reports of monotony , the QMC Food Services Branch used this limitation as a defense to the largely negative response to the C ration during the war , while at the same time advocating standardization on the C ration as the sole individual packaged ration for U . S . troops . Not only did the QMC decide not to develop or introduce new alternative lightweight individual rations , it successfully campaigned for the elimination of alternatives , including the K - ration , Mountain ration , Jungle ration , and even the 10 - in - 1 group ration ( which had proven somewhat useful in boosting nourishment and alleviating complaints of monotony for men living for extended periods on C or K rations ) . Instead , the C ration , still designated as a packaged ration intended for infrequent or short - term use , went though a series of largely unsuccessful minor revisions . This decision resulted in limiting troops in the field to a single class of packaged ration that despite meal variances , was neither suited to varied field environments nor long - term use . Troops continued to complain of the monotony of a single class of field ration with one or more unpalatable menu items , especially where A and B rations were not available for extended periods of time . Primarily implemented due to cost concerns , the selection of a heavy canned wet ration resulted in a severe weight penalty for troops marching on foot and forced to carry a multi - day supply of rations . The overuse of the canned wet ration reached an extreme during the Vietnam War , where American troops resorted to placing stacked ration cans in socks to save bulk and reduce noise on patrol , while their enemy increased their mobility by carrying lightweight rations of dry rice . The Quartermaster Branch ' s insistence on canned wet rations for all postwar field issue , and the failure to develop a suitable lightweight dehydrated or other dry ration for jungle and other extreme environments led directly to the hurried development of the LRP ration or Long Range Patrol ration in 1966 . Starting in 1958 , C - rations were slowly replaced by the nearly identical canned Meal , Combat , Individual ration . These rations were issued for most of the next two plus decades , until they were replaced by Meal Ready to Eat or MREs in the early 1980s . Influence . The C - rations during the Korean War led later to the introduction of instant coffee to South Korea .