Modern mobile messes for Army

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 7, 14 July 1987, Page 5

Modern mobile messes for Army

New mobile field kitchens that cook anything from sausages to souffle are now being used by New Zealand Army chefs. The West German-manu-factured Karcher field kitchen promises New Zealand troops on exercise considerably more variation of meals and better nutritional value, says Captain Dave Murray of the Wellington-based Directorate of Transport, Movements and Catering. Twenty-eight Karcher kitchens were purchased for the Arrhy at a cost of SNZ1.25 million. Army units throughout the country and Singapore will receive the mobile military messes. The Karcher model incorporates the latest field kitchen technology. It replaces field cooking equipment which the Army has used since 1959. Captain Murray said the new kitchen can be likened to a trailer-based pressure cooker on wheels. The Karcher kitchen enables chefs, at any one time, to make three-course meals for 250 soldiers, or a one-course meal for up to 600 people. Older Army kitchens were designed to feed 50 soldiers. Time saving is another advantage of the new technology, says Captain Murray. The Karcher kitchen can be ready for cooking action in just 30 minutes. This compares to the several hours needed for preparations of canvas cook hous-

es that former field cooking equipment required. The pressure-cooker system also makes the cooking time of food much faster, about half the time it used to take the old burners. Increased safety is another benefit of the Karcher kitchen, says Captain Murray. Chefs had to constantly monitor the air pressure on the older model kitchens and maintenance became uneconomic. The new kitchens have an in-built pressure release system. Any type of conventional fuel can be used as a heat source, including diesel, petrol, wood, coal or gas. Army chefs will be using diesel with the new kitchens. Operators' courses for Army chefs are to be held in Papakura, Waiouru, Lin-

ton and Burnham under the watchful eye of the Army's School of Transport and Catering, Waiouru.

Territorial Force soldiers completing the course will receive certificates of proficiency.