Australian Defence Force

Patrol Ration (One Man) – PR1M

The Patrol Ration One Man (PR1M) is the light weight ration used by special forces soldiers of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It is the combat ration pack (CRP) produced in smallest numbers but has an important role for the long range patrol activities of the ADF.

The PR1M is not widely used by the Australian Army. The pack is designed for issue to individuals as the tactical situation dictates or when no form of group feeding is practicable. The ration is nutritionally complete and requires no foodstuffs supplementation. Water, additional to normal requirements, is requred to re-hydrate the freeze-dried and dehydrated components.

Typical PR1M Contents

The weight of a PR1M is only about 60% that of the CR1M, yet it provides a similar quantity of total food energy and nutrients. This is achieved partly by the use of dehydration — the main meals are ‘freeze-dried’.

Freeze-drying is a technique that was invented soon after the Second World War. It involves dehydrating frozen food without allowing the ice to melt (the food is gently heated and subjected to a partial vacuum so the ice ‘sublimes’ to water vapour, in the same way that dry ice sublimes to carbon dioxide gas when exposed to normal air pressure and temperature). This causes microscopic pores (i.e. tiny holes) to form in the food where the ice crystals were, allowing for rapid rehydration when the soldier adds water to reconstitute his freeze-dried meal. Because the freeze-drying technique is very gentle to food, both the texture and nutritional quality of freezedried meals are much better than applies to alternative methods of dehydrating food. Meals are freeze-dried to less than 2% water and then sealed in air-tight pouches, with all air removed from the pouch during the sealing process. The lack of oxygen and extremely low moisture prevent the growth of bacteria or other micro-organisms that could spoil the food or cause food poisoning. So the freeze-dried meals are safe and acceptable for several years without the need for refrigeration – something that is often in very short supply on operations.

Each PR1M ration pack provides food for one person for one day with an average energy value of 14,000 kJ (3,350 Calories). The pack is nutritionally balanced providing sufficient energy to meet bodily requirements as well as essential nutrients comprising fats, sugars, vitamins and minerals.

The PR1M is designed around two sachets of freeze-dried meals, plus other lightweight ration components. There are five menus to maintain variety, with items such as biscuits, chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar and milk being common to each menu.

PR1M Menus (2007-2008) – F/D=Freeze-Dried

Menu A	Menu B	Menu C	Menu D	Menu E
F/D Chicken Tetrazinni F/D Beef and Green Beans Bev Powder, Grape Type II Bev Powder, Orange Type II Bev Powder, Orange Type I Confectionary Spread – Vanilla Noodles, Chicken F/D Potato & Onion Fruit Spread, Raspberry Biscuit Shrewsbury Pouched Tuna in Springwater	F/D Veal Italienne F/D Beef and Black Beans Bev Powder, Tropical Type II Bev Powder, Mix Berry Type II Bev Powder, Lemon & Lime Type I Confectionary Spread – Chocolate Noodles, Beef F/D Potato & Onion Fruit Spread, Plum Fruit Grains, Blackcurrant Fruit Grains, Mixed Berry Biscuit, Krispie x 2	F/D Tuna Mornay F/D Beef and Noodle Bev Powder, Lemon Lime Type II Bev Powder, Orange Type II Bev Powder, Mixed Berry Type I Confectionary Spread – Vanilla Noodles, Chicken F/D Rice Fruit Spread, Raspberry Fruit Grains, Mixed Berry Fruit Grains, Tropical Biscuit Shrewsbury Pouched Tuna in Springwater Biscuits, Shortbread	F/D Lamb Casserole F/D Beef Teriyaki Bev Powder, Lemon Lime Type II Bev Powder, Mix Berry Type II Bev Powder, Tropical Type I Confectionary Spread – Chocolate Noodles, Beef FF/D Potato & Onion Fruit Spread, Marmalade Fruit Grains, Strawberry Fruit Grains, Tropical Biscuit, Krispie	F/D Savoury Beef F/D Spaghetti & Meatballs Bev Powder,Tropical Type II Bev Powder, Grape Type II Bev Powder, Raspberry Type I Confectionary Spread – Vanilla Noodles, Chicken F/D Rice Fruit Spread, Blackberry Fruit Grains, Strawberry Biscuit Shrewsbury Pouched Tuna in Springwater Biscuits, Shortbread

 

Additional Items Common To All Menus
Beverage Choc Powder Beverage Instant Coffee x 2 Candy Hard x 2 MB, Forest Fruits Bag, Plastic Common Pads, Scouring	Biscuit Vitalife Wellgrain Pepper Black Candy Chocolate MB, Apricot & Coconut Rubber Bands Size 32 x 2 Paper, Toilet	Chocolate Ration Salt Sauce, Soy MB, Tropical Fruits Ribber Bands, Size 62 x 1 Spoon, Plastic	Milk, Sweetened Condensed Vegetable Extract Sauce, Tomato, Ketchup Bag, Plastic re-sealable Matches, Waterproof (GL) Vial Chewing Gum, Various 2 x pkts of 4	Beverage, Tea Bags, Pot x 2 Sugar, Grade 1XA x 8 Sauce, Sweet Chilli Bag, Plastic Inner Menu Sheet

PR1M Menus

2007-2008 PR1M Menus and Information – (Click here for PDF version)

2008-2008 PR1M Ingredients (Click here for PDF version)

Older PR1M Menus

2001-2002 PR1M Menus and Information – (Click here for PDF version)

2001-2002 PR1M Ingredients (Click here for PDF version)

 

 

(Acknowledgements: “Acceptability of the Patrol Ration One Man”, T.N. Stephenson, P.J. Cavanough and G.E. Driver, Combatant Protection and Butrition Branch Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory. DSTO-TN-0136; Defence Family Matters, Summer 2006-07; norge; Die Kampfzuteilung)