LRP ration

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The LRP ration (pronounced "Lurp" and standing for Long Range Patrol ration). It was a U.S. Army field ration, developed in 1966/1967 during the Vietnam Conflict (1959-75) for use by Special Operations troops on long patrols deep in enemy territory.

LRP rations (nicknamed "Long rats") were designed to be lightweight and easily portable, a precursor of the U.S. military’s current Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) field ration. It was a freeze dried, vacuum-packed meal packed in an 11 oz. foil pouch stored in a gray-green canvas envelope.

Menus consisted of an entree and a dessert item. Entrees included: Chili con Carne, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Pork with Scalloped Potatoes, and chicken stew. Dessert consisted of a cereal bar, fruitcake bar, and either a chocolate bar or two chocolate-coated candy discs. The drawback was that 1.5 pints of water was required to cook and reconstitute them; troops usually just crumbled them up and ate them on the go. It was often mixed with canned C-Rations to reduce monotony.

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