British Army Diesel Cooker

[Fletching]

Any one of you ex-squaddies etc. ever used one of these?

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/no-12-stove---british-army-diesel-powered-military-cooker-8893-p.asp

I'd like to know as I know it's a bit expensive, but for a car/boat kit, there's always diesel around when you can't make an open fire.

Answers on a postcard please...

Steve

[Tony1948]

Dont now about that one but the Petrol one could be a bit of a night mere if I remember:oops::shocked:

[wescobts]

Never used one, but have heard a couple of buddies on another forum discuss the poor smell from diesel, didn't get into the food, but they said the odor was for the evening.

[happybonzo]

Save your money and buy a true multi fuel stove such as an MSR or the latest Primus: As Wescobts says
they said the odor was for the evening.

I run my multi fuel on Aspen 4T fuel. It costs £3.40 per litre as opposed to Coleman fuel at £6 or more.

[JEEP]

Diesel is not recommended as cooking fuel, it utterly stinks! It will, no matter how careful you are keeping the lid of the pot on tight, add a very nasty aftertaste to your food. No matter how much you try to conceal it with spices.

If you like the design of the stove, look for an Optimus Hiker+ - or better, a vintage Optimus Hiker, as they are found much cheaper and are generally much better. This is a classic multifuel stove "in-a-box", formerly in use by the Danish army.

Perosnally I use the Optimus Svea 123R (white gas) and the Trangia Multifuel X2 (made by Primus). I used to have a multifuel Optimus Nova+, but I disliked the built-in adjustment in the fuel line, I would much rather recommend the older Optimus Nova over the Nova+, if you can find one.

[bigzee]

Looks like roughly the same design as the Coleman twin burner we used to have for family camping (until it packed-up and refused to work - despite a clean and service). My original Coleman feather 442 still soldiers on though. Of course, they were fuelled with white gas or unleaded so - no unpleasant smells/tastes. I assume this Army design one was to save taking different fuel for cooking, and could just utilize a splash or two from the landy/lorry jerrycan.

[Ben Casey]

We only ever had petrol but I hated the things they always seemed to not quite work for me LOL

[TinkyPete]

Used the no 12 once when work with the marines and it stinks the petrol no 2 burner was a lot better and a great det cooker

[Ben Casey]

We just got big blue bottles of gas and camping gas cookers :) But on the 432 we had the old tank keetle (I cant remember its right name) what we could boil on the move for brew and the Louvres on the top where we cooked our tins while drive along knocking German bins over that they left at the side of the road. It was great fun at four in the morning :D

[TinkyPete]

you mean the old BV, boiling vessel they were great things I converted one to work in my rover, but when I left one of my units I left it behind one of the bigeest mistakes I ever made.

[Ben Casey]

you mean the old BV, boiling vessel they were great things I converted one to work in my rover, but when I left one of my units I left it behind one of the bigeest mistakes I ever made.

Yeah thats it they where great things :)

[TinkyPete]

They are in a lot of the new vehicles including Vikings

[Ben Casey]

They are in a lot of the new vehicles including Vikings

I think it is one of them things Squaddies will fight to keep :) Robust and good at the job :D

[happybonzo]

Fill yer boots (http://www.fv432.co.uk/wwwfv432couk/ces/boilingvessel.htm)

- and Electrothermal (http://www.armedforces-int.com/article/fv706656-cookingboiling-vessel.html) will even sell you one :)

[Ben Casey]

Cool find there :) I just need the tank or Landrover now :D

[rosshs]

We had some donated to our scout group, seemed to take ages to warm up (compared to our coleman petrol stoves anyway), and the diesel smell was pretty bad. You need a priming gel/liquid to warm the fuel pipes so the diesel will turn into vapour as well. Seemed pretty robust though.

[FishyFolk]

Looks a lot like the Optimyus 111 we use(d) in the Norwegian army. That one burned kerosene, and we had to pre-heat it with meths to get it going.

Just saw a used one for 250NOK, so might pick one up just for the nostalgia. They weigh 2 kg sans fuel....

[EddieJ]

Sorry for the late entry to the thread..

I have a bit of a weird fetish for army cookers. I have several early No2 petrol stoves and three of the later modified versions. I also have a new old stock No3 and a diesel No12.

I have never had any issues using diesel in the No12, but upon recommendation I now run it on paraffin and keep meaning to order up an Optimus 0.32mm jet for it. I take the stoves to work with me in the van on an almost daily basis, but more often than not I tend to use my Swedish Army Enmanskok M/40 which I really rate very highly. I have both the aluminium and stainless version.

The No12

http://imageshack.us/a/img843/9269/dscf2153t.jpg

Running on diesel. I had a few issues with the jet not quite being tight enough and the flame spreader was also sitting slightly crooked. Quality control leaves much to be desired on these stoves, which is probably why people have issues with smell and mess. A correctly set up and prepared stove won't cause any issues. I'm pretty OCD when when it comes to looking after and cleaning tools and kit. In my mind being like this helps eliminate any issues from ever occuring.

http://imageshack.us/a/img838/3995/60566688.jpg

And one of the lovely Swedish M/40's (aluminium version)

http://imageshack.us/a/img17/4987/dscf9228e.jpg

[Cascare]

I run mine on 80/20 mix paraffin/petrol, works a treat and never had a problem