Editing C-ration (section)

==Ration, Individual, Combat, Type C (Revised) (1948–1958)==
After the failure of the E-ration, ration planners decided to save costs by returning to the basic C-ration designation, intermittently revised with new menus and item specifications.

===Type C-2 ration (1948–1951)===
The C-2 ration was described in TB-QM-53, Department of the Army, dated March 1948, as an individual ration which consisted of packaged pre-cooked foods which could be eaten hot or cold. It replaced the World War II C-ration, and later, the short-lived E-ration. It could be carried and prepared by the individual soldier. The revised C-ration was now intended for feeding combat troops continuously, up to three weeks (21 days).<ref>Longino, James C. (Col.), ''Rations in Review'', The Quartermaster Review, May–June 1946</ref> Due to the required individual portability of this ration, maximum nourishment had to be provided in the smallest physical unit. The components of this ration were prepared in five different menus.

Each menu included an accessory packet which consisted of essential toilet articles, [[tobacco]], and [[confections]].

===Type C-3 ration (1951–1953)===
In 1951, a new C-3 menu for the C-ration was introduced. The C-3 ration was composed of the same five menus of the C-2, but offered greater variety. In addition to new and improved “B” (bread) and “M” (meat) units, each menu contained an accessory packet, fruit, and cigarettes. The ration was very heavy, weighing 5&nbsp;lbs. 8.5 oz. [2.5&nbsp;kg.], and was packed in 8 small cans in a cardboard box. There were 6 daily ration boxes per cardboard case.
*Three “M” (meat) components, which offered 10 different varieties of meat entrées.
**Chopped Eggs and Ham
**Pork and Beans
**Meat Chunks and Beans
*Three “B” (bread) components consisting of:
**'''B-1:''' a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, a cocoa disc, and a {{convert|1.5|oz|abbr=on}} tin of jam.
**'''B-2:''' a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, 1 cookie sandwich, and 1 chocolate fudge disc.
**'''B-3:''' a unit of 5 crackers, a packet of soluble coffee, a packet of powdered milk, a packet of granulated sugar, 2 cookie sandwiches, and a {{convert|1.5|oz|abbr=on}} tin of jam.
**'''B-4:''' a unit of pre-mixed and compressed [[Oatmeal|cereal]].
*One {{convert|12|oz|abbr=on}} can of fruit.
*One sundries can containing the accessory packet (chewing gum, toilet paper, a [[P-38 can opener]], granulated salt, and a flat wooden spoon) and the cigarette packet (one 9-pack of cigarettes and a book of matches).

Field cooking equipment was not required for the preparation of this ration. The C-3 ration was more adequate than the original C-ration in respect to its nutritional value.

===Type C-4 ration (1954–1958)===
In 1954, the C-4 ration was developed as a modification of the C-3 ration, and was called Ration, Combat, Individual. It included the issue of two {{convert|6|oz|adj=on}} cans of fruit for 2 meals to replace the one {{convert|12|oz|adj=on}} can issued for one meal in the C-3 ration.

A sample C-4 ration (stamped March 1954) contained:
*1 instruction sheet
*2 [[cheese]] bars (1.5 net ounces/43 g net)
*2 [[cereal]] class 5 bars (1.5 net ounces/43 g net)
*3 type XII style 1 enriched [[chocolate bar]]s (1 ounce/28 g)
*1 [[jelly (fruit preserves)|jelly]] bar (2 ounces/56 g)
*2 fruit cake bars (2 ounces/56 g)
*3 sticks Topps [[peppermint]] [[chewing gum]]
*3 Domino [[sugar]] packets
*3 Nestea "soluble [[tea]] product" packets
*1 packet of pure soluble sugar
*1 packet of soluble [[cream]] product
*1 bottle water purification tablets ([[iodine]])
*1 plastic bag