Editing Mess kit (section)

===German and Japanese===
[[File:Bundeswehr Feldessgeschirr 2.JPG|thumb|[[Bundeswehr]] mess kit]]
[[File:飯ごう (37606607295).jpg|thumb|Modern [[Japan]]ese camper's mess kit similar to an Imperial Army model]]

During World War II, the [[German Army (German Empire)|German]] and [[Japanese Imperial Army]] used mess kits that were similar in several ways. In storage, their dimensions were similar to US mess kits, but were split widthwise instead of lengthwise, around two-thirds of the body, creating a pot with handle and a cup.

The German mess kit (''Essgeschirr'') was designed in 1908, a modification of a [[#Swiss|Swiss design from 1882]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} Originally, the base held two litres, marked into 1/4 sections, and the lid holding another 1/4. This model replaced the 1850 ''Kochgeschirr''. The new 1908 ''Essgeschirr'' was made of aluminium and not designed for cooking; only to contain food distributed from field kitchens. The early models of the 1908 were painted in a distinct matte black.
In 1910, the aluminum handle was replaced with one of galvanised iron, as aluminum often got hot in the soldiers' hands. The 1908 model was in production until 1940. In 1931, a model later called ''Kochgeschirr 31'' (Cooking pot model 31)<ref name="Saiz2008"/> was developed. It was capable of cooking, and held 1.7 liters.<ref name="Saiz2008">{{Cite book |title=Deutsche Soldaten: Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45 |last=Saiz |first=Agustin |publisher=Casemate Publishers |year=2008 |isbn=9781932033960 |location=Pennsylvania, USA |pages=142 |language=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RZuJ2j_fJZsC&dq=Kochgeschirr+31+1931&pg=PT73 |via=Google Books}}</ref> With only very minor changes, this model remained in service with the German military (both East and West) as well as with the German disaster relief services ([[THW]]), which were painted grey.

They were mainly used in conjunction with a folding [[Esbit]] stove, which, when folded, could store Esbit pellets and occupy a very small area. The German mess kit was usually held together with a leather strap, which was used to fasten the mess kit to the soldier's bread bag in combat order or assault pack of the [[webbing equipment]] in marching order.

The Japanese Army enlisted men's mess kit, or {{Ill|hangō|ja|飯盒|lt={{lang|ja-Latn|hangō|nocat=yes}}}} (''rice container''),<ref name="NKDC_Hango">{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Hangō|script-title=ja:飯盒|encyclopedia=精選版 日本国語大辞典 ([[Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]] Concise edition)|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|location=Japan|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%A3%AF%E7%9B%92-606343|access-date=2023-05-05|language=ja|via=[[Kotobank]]}}</ref> differed from other armies' mess kits in several respects. No attempt was made to conform the ''hangō'' to the Japanese one-liter M-94 oval water bottle, which was larger than that issued to the armies of some other nations. The ''hangō'' consisted of a brown kidney-shaped, oval-bottomed, heavy-gauge aluminum rice cooker pot with lid, and an insert tray stored inside the pot.<ref name="Sakaguchi2013">{{Cite journal |last=Sakaguchi<!--坂口--> |first=Masaharu<!--正治--> |year=2013 |title=About the History and the Function of Mess Kit |url=https://toyo.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=10359&file_id=22&file_no=1 |format=pdf |journal=Departmental Bulletin Paper "Journal of Human Life Design" |language=ja |location=Japan |publisher=Toyo University |volume=9 |pages=413–414}} (bibliographic imfo:[http://id.nii.ac.jp/1060/00010050/])

* Photo 7: Type-92 hangō, from around 1932
* Photo 8: (the original) hangō, from 1898
* Photo 9 lower right: wartime model from around 1944
</ref> The lid and tray were also used as serving plates.<ref name="George-1947">{{Cite book |title=Shots Fired in Anger |last=George |first=John B |publisher=Small Arms Technical Publishing Company |year=1947 |page=156 |language=ja |hdl=2027/mdp.39015013248441 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015013248441?urlappend=%3Bseq=174 |publication-place=Plantersville, South Carolina, USA |hdl-access=free}}
** Pages where the Japanese mess kit and foods are mentioned: pp53, 156–157, 207</ref> A simplified model, the ''Ro'', was introduced later in the war, which lacked the pot insert.

The men cooked with ''hangō''s over open fires or cans of [[jellied alcohol]].<ref name="George-1947"/> In addition to its usefulness as a cooking vessel, the ''hangō'' was useful for carrying the cooked rice.{{r|"George-1947"|page=207}} During the Second World War, it was occasionally adopted by members of the [[United States Army]]<ref name="George-1947"/> and [[National Revolutionary Army|Chinese Army]]<ref name=George-1981>{{cite book |last1=George |first1=John B |title=Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal |page=491 |date=1981 |publisher=National Rifle Association of America |isbn=978-0935998429 |edition=2nd}}
* pp1–415 ''Book I. Guadalcanal'': Reprint of the 1947 edition
* pp417–535 ''Book II. Burma'': Newly added chapters
</ref> which had captured Japanese equipment, and later by the [[Viet Minh]].