Mess Kits

French Army Mess Kit M-52

1952

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Nomenclature

Gamelle Armee M-52

Gamelle 3 pièces en aluminium

pour la préparation des repas.

History

A really

Feathures

According to data from the grid this set is in use by 1945-50g. to this day

The kit consists of the following parts:

A large pot with a handle.
Dimensions: 17x13x4.5cm.
capacity to the brim: 990ml.
Handle length 18cm vessel without a handle, which can serve as a lid.
Dimensions: 16.5x12.5x4.5cm.Volume to the brim: 920ml
Small container with handle.Dimensions: 15x11x5.5cm.capacity to the edge: 0.900ml.
Handle length 16.5cmDimensions folded set 13x17x6cm.
Total weight of 550 grams.

Specification

Logistics

Production

SELECTED ARTWORKS IN THE COLLECTION

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The French M52 Mess Kit

Known as Gamelle Modelle 1952
In the 1950’s the Gamelle Armée Française M35 was replaced with a new model, the Armée Française M52. This new type of mess tin was totally different from its predecessor. Although the M39 was rectangular in shape, the idea behind it was taken basically from the German kidney shape mess kit, the M31 Kochgeschirr, with the large pot and the lid whose handle closes over the whole kit (+ a pan inside).
The Armée Française M52 Mess Kit resembles more the British Patt 37 mess tin because of its rectangular shape and size. The influence goes further because of the way the components are stored inside each other. However it differs from its British counterpart in the following ways. First of all it consists of three components instead of two. The handles differ as well. In fact, the smallest and the largest component have a handle which is similar to the U.S. Meat Can handle and not a wire type handle that the Patt 37 has. The middle component has no handle. The three units are held together inside each other when the handle of the large container closes over the middle container inside it and clicks over a stud on the other side. Again, here it is similar to the U.S. Meat Can. The large container also has a ring near the swivel of the handle, probably for hanging the kit by means of a carabiner (?). The M52 Gamelle is 170 mm long, 130 mm wide and 55 mm high. Its weight is 556 gr.
Although the M52 Gamelle was issued for the first time during the French War in Indochina, it was not extensively used there, and the French Army made use of British and U.S. mess kits. Even M35 Gamelles were used. However the M52 Gamelle was extensively used during the French War in Algeria (1954 -1962) and in the years which followed.
The M52 was produced by various metallurgic manufacturers like JAPY, MO-Vesoul, Bourgeat, Nordmetall and MMT Tournus (Manufacture Métallurgique de Tournus). This particular mess kit was produced by MMT Tournus and is dated 1957 (i.e. it was produced during the period of the French War in Algeria). MMT was founded in 1910 to alleviate unemployment caused in the area of Burgundy by the vine disease (grape phylloxera) which caused widespread crisis unemployment. Then in the World War 1 the factory produced the Modelle 1852 gamelles for the poilus. During World War 2 it produced the Gamelle M39 even during the German occupation up to 1944. In 1952 Tournus produced the Gamelle M52 and its production continued until the turn of the century.
In 2009 (?) the M52 was replaced by a new type of Gamelle introduced in the Armée Française. This new type is made of stainless steel Inox and is composed of two components, similar to the U.S. meat can. The larger component is covered with Teflon.
The M52 mess kit in this collection came with its cruets: a fork and a spoon both marked with the word ‘armee’ and the letters ‘AL’. The spoon has the letters ‘CD’ scratched on the back, presumably the initials of the original owner.

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