The Long Range Patrol, Meal Cold Weather (LRP, MCW)

The Food Packet, Long Range Patrol or "LRP ration" (pronounced "lurp") is a U.S. Army freeze-dried field ration. It was developed in 1964 during the Vietnam War (1959–75) for use by a special group of SF soldiers, the LRRPs.

Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols were small, silent, and heavily armed teams which ventured deep in VC-held territory. More often than not, 4-5 men were tasked with shadowing large formations of VC regulars.

To do this effectively, they had to be light, fast, and well fed. Bulky canned MCI rations (formerly known as C rations) proved too heavy for extended missions on foot. In fact they were worse than heavy.