K RATION

From the start of the development of the K Ration a part of the calorific value was provided by fat from a meat product. The canned product also delivered most of the proteins. It was clear from the start that the meat could only being packed in a can. Early experimentation of packaging meat in cellophane laminated to an aluminum foil proved not feasible.

The early K Ration (fall 1941) packed rectangular cans containing Veal Luncheon meat for breakfast, Pork Luncheon meat for dinner and Cervelate Sausage for supper. A lot of early promotional photos show these cans.

Originally the rectangular oblong cans, like a cut-down spam can, were intended to be used. However, the commercial capacity for producing those cans wasn't considdered adequate enough once the K Ration went into full production.

Round cans

As an alternative cylindrical cans were accepted. These cans were of the commercial 300 x 106 size, meaning they were 3 inches in diameter 1 3/8 inch high (the first digit are whole inches and the last two digits are 1/16th of an inch). Indirectly the height of the can dictated the dimension of the inner carton of the K Ration's box.

All of these cans are of the key-opening style. The keys were not attached to the cylindrical can (like the B unit of the C Ration), but the key was placed (though not attached) on top of the can when inserted in the inner box.

The rectangular cans and the early procured cylindrical cans used paper labels, but soon the information was lithographed on one end of the can. Usually this was done in black, but sometimes red, blue or green ink was used as well.

The early cans (1942 production) were coated with a protective clear lacquer, later gold lacquer was used (1943 production), before changing to camouflaged coated cans (early 1944).

With the first large scale procurement the cans were of the cylindrical type. At the same time some changes in the meat products were made.
The servelate sausage proved unpopular and was first replaced with “Pork Luncheon Meat” and later with canned Cheese in the Dinner unit. The breakfast contained canned "Veal & Pork Loaf" or "Minced Corned Beef", while the supper contained a can of "Corned Pork Loaf”.

In the fall of 1943 a camouflage lacquer or coating was suggested. Early 1944 cans can being found with a greenish lacquer, but soon a non-reflective olive drab coating was used. Due to production capacities some companies first used up old stock of the lacquered cans while other companies were already using the camouflaged cans, so both types can be found with early 1944 produced rations.

As of July 1942 six types were developed for the K Ration. These were basically the only canned products (with minor variations) until 1945. These six varieties are: Ham & Egg, Pork & Egg Yolk, Processed Cheese, Processed Cheese with Bacon, Pork & Beef Loaf and Corned Pork Loaf (with Carrots and Apple Flakes).

The Breakfast unit contained either “Chopped Ham & Eggs" or "Chopped Pork & Egg Yolks”.* It is possible that cheese substituted the egg product due to inadequate production facilities. The Egg product contained about 2/3 meat and 1/3 egg component together with seasoning.

* As an alternative to the Pork & Egg Yolk, an egg product made with pork and whole eggs, or pork with only egg whites was used.

Dinner came with a can of cheese. This could be a mix of American cheese (with 20% Cheddar cheese.) As an alternative to the plain cheese, 7.5% of precooked bacon was mixed in with the cheese. Later an American cheese with Swiss cheese blend was added.

The evening meal (Supper) came with an improved "Corned Pork Loaf", but now containing Carrot and Apple Flakes mixed in. The other meat product was still the “Beaf & Pork Loaf”.

As an alternative a fish product was suggested in 1943. Although some fish products were tested, none were accepted. The spreads submitted were considered "too salty, too spicy, or too granular". It was also reported that because of, apparently, "the well known dislike of many soldiers for fish" a canned fish product was not feasible.

The search for other varieties continued and at the end of the war there were still the two egg products, "Ham & Eggs" and "Chopped Pork & Egg Yolks".The cheese came now in three varieties, plain "Processed American Cheese", "Processed American Cheese with Bacon" and "Processed American Cheese & Swiss Cheese Blend”.

The Cheese Spread with smoked meat (probably ham) and relish was intro-duced at the very end of the war. Right a can dated 6-45. (photo: internet)

The K Ration's canned egg, cheese or meat products are also used in the 10-in-1 Ration together with a Partial Dinner Unit forming the lunch.

In the fall of 1944 it was decided that the texture of the meat items for the noon meal of the 10-in-1 Ration should be more solid and five new varieties were added: Hamburgers, Pork Tenderloin, Pork & Corn, Pork with Applesauce, and Pork Sausage Patties with Apples. These new meat products came in 6-ounce 300 x 200 size cans. Obviously these cans were too big to fit in the cartons and were not used with the K Ration.

There were only three egg products developed for the K Ration:
- Chopped Ham & Eggs
- Chopped Pork & Egg Yolk/Egg Whites/Whole Eggs
- Chopped Beef & Egg White (only used with early production)

Four varieties of the cheese product were developed:
- American Processed Cheese
- American & Swiss Processed Cheese blend
- American Processed Cheese with Bacon
- Cheese Spread with Ham, or Cheese Spread with Smoked Meat and Relish (introduced in 1945)

Eleven meat products were developed during the war. Some were developed in 1943, others at the end of the war. Some of the meat products were developed, but never went into production (marked with an asterisk):
- Minced Corned Beef (early K Rations)
- Veal & Pork Loaf (early K Rations)
- Canned Pork Loaf with Carrot and Apple Flakes
- Beef & Pork Loaf
- Deviled Meat* (developed in 1943)
- Mortadella* (developed in 1943)
- Chicken, solid pack  (August 31, 1945 specifications)
- Chopped Suey with Pork and Toasted Almonds*
- Chipped Steak*
- Fried Ham*
- Pork Steaks*

The experimental and initial procurement K Rations with the rectangular cans contained:
- Veal Luncheon Meat (also found in cylindrical cans)
- Pork Luncheon Meat (also found in cylindrical cans)
- Cervelate Sausage

Key

A small wire key was included to open the can. Unlike as was the case with the B-unit of the the C ration, the key was not attached to the can. The loose key was to be placed on top, or under the can before it was inserted in to a cardboard sleeve (discussed below).

Before the cardboard sleeve was introduced the key was sometimes included in the cellophane bag with the other components. A set of type I K Rations produced by the American Chicle Company, when opened, was found having the keys sealed inside the bag.
No small “P38” can openers were ever included in the K Ration.

Protective cardboard sleeve

It was discoverd that the protective wax coating of the inner carton would crack or even tear along the edges of the can inserted in it. To prevent this a cardboard sleeve was developed to insert the can in first before placing the can in the inner carton. The earliest protective measure used was a piece of cardboard that folded around the can covering both ends half way.

Later a real sleeve was used that was 3 inces wide and 2 3/4 inch deep, leaving the can only sticking out for a quarter inch.
The key was placed on one end of the can before sliding it in its sleeve. When the matches were included these were placed on the other end of the can inside the sleeve.

The first type of sleeve has two notched corners, so one side can be bend inwards a little. Whether this was done to facilitate insertion or to make more room for the other components is not known. The second type sleeve (shown below) is of a straight box style.