![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/00-VJTF23-EPa-3859.jpg)
In this fifth Bundeswehr Einmannpackung (EPa) article we look at the batch issued to German VJTF troops on NOBLE JUMP 23 in Sardinia, writes Bob Morrison.
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In our last Bundeswehr EPa article we looked at the ‘little grey meal box’ rations issued in late 2022 to German troops on pre-deployment exercise ahead of the NATO VJTF23 (Very High Readiness Task Force 2023) mission, and in this update we look at a typical pack issued to participants on the recent NOBLE JUMP (NOJU23) deployment exercise (DEPLOYEX) on the Italian island of Sardinia.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01a-VJTF23-EPa-3860.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
As we have previously seen, the EPa rations issued for the 2022 pre-deployment exercise were of the freeze-dried main meal pouch variants (i.e. Typ 7 to Typ 10) but for the May 2023 exercise it was the wet pouch variants (i.e. Typ 1 to Typ 6) which the participating troops carried on their vehicles during range training periods; when in Teulada camp, however, they ate meals prepared by cooks. I both photographed one EPa (Typ 1) carried by a Leopard 2 A7 tank crew out in the field, and brought another one away with me (Typ 5) to photograph.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01b-VJTF23-EPa-5231.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
I travelled onwards from Sardinia, via London, to Madrid for FEINDEF 2023 and then Tallinn via Riga for KEVADTORM 2023 so needed to ensure that I did not exceed my budget airline weight allowance by picking up too many additional items on the way. To solve any potential weight problem (I would later pick up a Canadian ration in Estonia) I photographed the EPa Typ 5 contents on my hotel bed and scoffed all but the wet pouch meals and the pumpernickel between assignments; not being a fan of German brown bread, or pumpernickel, I gifted the tin to the Polish chambermaid at my hotel, but I brought the retort pouches back home as I did not have the facilities to boil-in-the bag while on my travels. The drinks sachets and pouches were added to the rotating stockpile which accompanies the lightweight travel kettle I carry with me on assignments whenever I have space in my hold luggage.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/02-VJTF23-EPa-5238.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
Current German EPa wet pouch and freeze-dried Menu / Typ contents are basically very similar. From the enclosed Contents List, printed in German plus the two standard NATO / OTAN languages of English /and French, we learn that ration Typ 1 to Typ 6 menus each contain: 2x 300g Ready-to-Eat Meal pouches; 1x 80g Muesli pouch; 1x 85g Tuna pouch; 1x 60g or 1x 30g Dessert pouch; 1x 170g (canned) Wholegrain Rye Bread; 1x 25g Spread pouch; 2x 48g Spread tubs; 2x 25g Jam tubs; 1x 35g Cookies; 1x 100g Army Biscuits; 2x 25g Chocolate; 1x 50g (dried) Fruit Mix or 1x 35g (dried) Banana Chips; and 2x 35g Energy Bar or 1x 50g Sesame Bar. The Typ 5 EPa is the Vegetarian option and while the other five Menus have 1x 25g Beef Jerky pouch, this one has a Sesame Bar as well as two Energy Bars.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/03-VJTF23-EPa-5242.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
The selection of Beverages provided in each of the six wet pouch EPa menus is identical to that in the the freeze-dried packs, namely: 2x Powdered Coffee; 2x Powdered Tea; 1x Cappuccino Powder; 2x Vegetable Broth Powder; and 4x Isotonic Drink Powder sachets in different flavours (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit and Exotic). The Accessories for all ten EPa types, many of which are packed into the medium-sized zip-lock bag intended for rubbish / garbage, should include: 2x Coffee Whitener, 4x Sugar; 2x Salt; Chewing Gum x12; Water Purification Tablets x4, 1x Refreshing Tissue; 2x Multipurpose (Tissue) Paper; and Book Matches. Again, some basic Directions for Use, in three languages, are printed on the reverse of the Contents List.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/04-VJTF23-EPa-5248.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
It was Carl who sourced this ration pack for us and, once again, I had to take a hit for the team by accepting the veggie option! I’ll get my own back one day. Having said that, both the Maultaschen in Tomatensauce (Dumplings in Tomato Sauce – i.e. Vegetarian Ravioli) and Chili sin Carne (Chilli without Meat) were palatable enough once heated by boiling in the bag, though the texture of the meat substitute in the latter was a bit rubbery. The Brotaufstrich Chili (Chilli Spread) had a real kick to it ~ I ate this processed cheese spread on a few of my biscuits and really enjoyed it. However I found the the Vegetarian Spread substitutes for the Meat Spread (Pâté) to be a bit bland.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05-VJTF23-EPa-3866.jpg)
[© Bob Morrison]
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/06-VJTF23-EPa-3877.jpg)
¤ Following this brief sidetrack, I next intend to look at an Angolan 24-hour ration pack provided by Portuguese suppliers Albacores, after which I have both a Portuguese Marines 24-hour pack and a recently proffed current issue Canadian single meal IMP 20 (Menu 10) bagged ration in the pipeline.
[images © Bob Morrison]
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- Field Rations 32 ~ Bundeswehr Lightweight Einmannpackung
- Field Rations 33 ~ Bundeswehr Boxed Einmannpackung
- Field Rations 34 ~ New Bundeswehr (Bagged) Einmannpackung
- Field Rations 72 ~ Bundeswehr Einmannpackung 2022
- Field Rations 75 ~ Bundeswehr VJTF23 Einmannpackung
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