Imperium's combat rations

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**MechaEmperor7000**

So I've been on a binge looking up combat rations of various armies, and I noticed how each country's rations reflect not only their cuisine, but also their general attitude towards war and culture as well.

I was wondering, given the vast monolithic bureaucracy of the Imperium, what would their combat rations be like? Would "proper" disciplined regiments be issued MRE-style foods, be asked to fend for themselves, or have some other crazyass method for feeding their troops?

I know Space Marines probably just roast whatever's nearby that won't poison the crap out of them, so they don't count. I'm talking about Inquisitors, Sororitas, Guard, etc. The kind that would get super-runs if they ate pokka-dotted berries.

**Gen.Steiner**

From the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer, there is an issue of Adeptus Munitorum standardised rations.

From the Fantasy Flight RPGs, there are issues of corpse-rations (Soylent Green, basically).

In the Gaunt's Ghosts books, there are Munitorum cooks and Guard cooks, and soldiers eat a mix of rations and locally available produce.

The Munitorum supplies Imperial Guard Regiments with all their equipment and supplies, from rations and boots to underpants and weapons. Guard units can supplement this with local purchases in Imperial Credits.

**jhe90**

Also regiments. A death korp brigade and a cadian will have different, and design will influence by there role. A light infantry drop regiment may have more compact than a armoured or mechanized unit.

**Gen.Steiner**

It honestly depends what the local Munitorum auxilia have in stores. Congratulations! You all get to live on 500 year old Meals-Ready-to-Eat, because all the local flora and fauna are highly toxic! But don't worry, you can't tell the difference once you add boiled water!

**MechaEmperor7000**

I would not be surprised if they do hand out millenial-old MREs

Knowing the imperium, they probably only hand it to the generals due to how it's now a "relic".

And you know that crap might actually be edible.

**ShieldBrother**

Don't Space Marines recycle their fecal matter when they run out of the protein shake that their armour pumps into them? I would assume guard has good 'ol fashion MREs.

**MechaEmperor7000**

That was the Chaos Marines and, usually, World Eaters due to fusing to their armor. Normal Marines usually eat whatever local creatures they catch.

**chromedog**

MRE - Meals Rejected by Everyone?

Orks use grots, humans, anything slower than them.

The imperium does have c-rats - mentioned in several BL novels and the munitarum primer and other pieces of propaganda.

**Ankhalagon**

Nutrient paste.....

Ah, the Adeptus Mechanicus way.....

**Deadshot**

ShieldBrother wrote:
Don't Space Marines recycle their fecal matter when they run out of the protein shake that their armour pumps into them? I would assume guard has good 'ol fashion MREs.

Well, Space Marines are generally capable of surviving a whole mission without food, as they should be winning the war in a week or so. But if they are stuck for years and need to sustain themselves, they have numerous organs to help them. They have acid spit to dissolve any material (such as hard animal bone), an organ that pre-digests things, including stuff like wood, before the stomach actually digests it, an organ that makes them pretty impossible to poison, and an organ that makes them gag up anything that could be completely inedible or lethally poisonous. Plus they have the bonus that they gain the memories of anything they eat so at a push, they could eat the body of the Nob they just killed, sustaining themselves and also gaining intel in the process. On top of that, even starved for years they are probably still capable of combat, unlike a human who would be useless after 4 weeks. And they also have the rumoured fecal-food system. And if all else fails, they have a hibernation state that is said to sustain them indefinitely.

**Animus**

The Regimental Standard has you covered.

https://regimental-standard.com/2016/06/15/your-new-diet-plan/

https://regimental-standard.com/2016/06/22/the-perfect-mug-of-recaff/

**MechaEmperor7000**

Animus wrote:
The Regimental Standard has you covered.

https://regimental-standard.com/2016/06/15/your-new-diet-plan/

https://regimental-standard.com/2016/06/22/the-perfect-mug-of-recaff/

The Imperial Chorus sings upon your grace!