The following report on German water rations was originally printed in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 5, August 13, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

WATER RATIONS Desert warfare requires that water be used on a scale to meet the needs of the fighting forces, but within the allowable limits imposed by the scarcity supplies. One captured document shows the issue of water to the 11th Battalion, German Fifth Tank Regiment in Libya, as follows: Radiator Water Vehicle     Container     Liters     Gals. (British) approx. Cars 1 20  4 1/2 Trucks and Mark I & II Tanks 2 40  9     Mark III & IV Tanks 3 60 13 1/2 As carried in the water supply columns these quantities are doubled per vehicle. Washing Water Approximately 2 gallons per man for 3 days. Cooking and Drinking Water The total for the Battalion is about 2,800 gallons, carried in 520 containers. Additional Reserve Approximately 4,212 gallons. (The total of 14,100 gallons is so high that it is unlikely to be continued for long.)

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