Engineering:Field ration eating device

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Short description: Australian military eating utensil

A field ration eating device with a tape measure displaying its length

The field ration eating device (FRED) is an Australian eating utensil and multi-tool that serves as a combination of a can opener, bottle opener, and spoon.[1] It was first issued around 1943 to the Australian Defence Force for use with its Combat Ration One Man field rations.[1]. Initially just a can opener, more functions were added, and it could be sterilised.[1] The FRED was to be discontinued in about 2005,[2][3] with ring-pull cans, boil-in-a-bag meals, and a spoon, meant to make the utensil redundant.[3]

Its NATO Stock Number (NSN) is 7330-66-010-0931 and the item name is "opener, hand, can".[4][5] It is also humorously referred to as the "fucking ridiculous eating device".[6][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ROGERS, Michael (13 February 2024). "Reliable FRED is here to stay". https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-02-13/reliable-fred-here-stay. 
  2. ↑ Capt. Brian Tuohy (6 October 2005). "Letters to the Editor: Farewell, old Fred". Army – The Soldiers' Newspaper (Coordination and Public Affairs; Directorate of Defence Newspapers (Australian Army)). https://web.archive.org/web/1/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1130/letters.htm. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Fred's friend's left with sour taste". Army – The Soldiers' Newspaper 20 October 2005 Edition #1131 : Letters to the Editor. Australian Army. 20 October 2005. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1131/letters.htm. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 
  4. ↑ "NSN search result: 7330-66-010-0931". ISO Group. https://www.iso-group.com/NSN/7330-66-010-0931. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 
  5. ↑ Bui, Lan; McLaughlin, Tracey; Coad, Ross. "Compliance of 2012/13 Combat Ration Packs to the Recommended Nutritional Criteria". Defence Science and Technology Organisation. p. 40. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA616391.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "A history of modern military rations". MetaFilter:community weblog. 2005. http://www.metafilter.com/45321/A-history-of-modern-military-rations. Retrieved 5 November 2007. "A similar device is currently employed by the Australian Army in its ration kits. It is known by the acronym "FRED" (Fucking Ridiculous Eating Device)." 
  7. ↑ Hardiman, Graeme. "The Malayan Emergency. 2RAR 1956/57". 2RAR. Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/malaya-korea/malaya-2rar.htm. Retrieved 5 November 2007. "I remember the spoon come tin opener that was in later years nicknamed "Fred" (f****ing ridiculous eating device)" 
  8. ↑ "Australian Ration pack Contents". Ration Pack. Australian Defence News & Opinion – MilitaryPeople.com.au. 2007. http://www.militarypeople.com.au/mainsite/content/view/175/50/. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 

Further reading



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