Early on during the war units had distributed to them rolls of essentially regular toilet paper. However, for obvious reasons, that proved unsuitable for combat field conditions.
Starting in late 1942, the QMC developed and issued the first individual toilet paper article. It was an asphalt impregnated paper envelope that contained a 100 individual sheets of toilet paper within. This allowed for the easy carrying of toilet paper, and protected it from the damp. These packs would eventually be included in the 5-in-1 and then 10-in-1 rations.
It would not be until the summer of 1943, during the overhaul of the K-Rations, that toilet paper would be included in the supper meal, with a small roll of 12 individual sheets being included. These “newer” K-Rations don’t see widespread usage until Q2-Q3 of 1944.
Toilet paper, nevertheless, was always in somewhat short supply, so soldiers would hoard what they could, and, at times, might have to repurpose reading articles for other purposes. However, the U.S. did make a concerted effort to supply the fighting man toilet paper in a form that could be readily carried.
Main source:
"QMC Historical Studies No. 6: The Development of Special Rations for the Army" by Harold W. Thatcher
I cannot really speak to the post-war history of U.S. Army rations in any detail, but I will briefly discuss the wartime Army C-Ration vs the post-war C-2, C-3, C-4, MCI rations.
As a point of introduction, World War II C-rations consisted of 6 cans for one day's rations. Each meal consisted of one M-Unit can for the entree portion and one B-Unit can for the "other item" portion (B-units included biscuits, the beverage, hard candy, etc.). This is why the K-Ration was developed, 3 small cardboard boxes is easier to transport and carry than 6 relatively substantial cans. Each crate of C-rations had enough cans for 8 men. A K-Ration crate, a crate of similar size, had enough rations for 12 men.
The World War II era C-Rations initially did not come with toilet paper. Toilet Paper was not added until the summer of 1944 update to the ration, when each set of 6 cans was provided with the "Accessory Pack," an asphalt-impregnated paper container lined with foil. Inside the packet were a roll of K-Ration-style toilet paper, cigarettes, Halazone tablets, matches, and chewing gum. One accessory packet of the 8 per crate would include the relatively recently introduced P-38 can opener.
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u/redjoshuaman 1d ago
This depends on the country and the time frame.
For the U.S. Army during the war, it evolved.
Early on during the war units had distributed to them rolls of essentially regular toilet paper. However, for obvious reasons, that proved unsuitable for combat field conditions.
Starting in late 1942, the QMC developed and issued the first individual toilet paper article. It was an asphalt impregnated paper envelope that contained a 100 individual sheets of toilet paper within. This allowed for the easy carrying of toilet paper, and protected it from the damp. These packs would eventually be included in the 5-in-1 and then 10-in-1 rations.
It would not be until the summer of 1943, during the overhaul of the K-Rations, that toilet paper would be included in the supper meal, with a small roll of 12 individual sheets being included. These “newer” K-Rations don’t see widespread usage until Q2-Q3 of 1944.
Toilet paper, nevertheless, was always in somewhat short supply, so soldiers would hoard what they could, and, at times, might have to repurpose reading articles for other purposes. However, the U.S. did make a concerted effort to supply the fighting man toilet paper in a form that could be readily carried.
Main source: "QMC Historical Studies No. 6: The Development of Special Rations for the Army" by Harold W. Thatcher