SIKORSKY H-34 CHOCTAW

H-34 SERVICE

Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Division, United Aircraft Corp., Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Model: S-58
Designations: H-34; HSS, HUS, CH-126 (CAF)
Names: Choctaw; Seabat (HSS), Seahorse (HUS),
Wessex (RAF / Royal Navy)
First official flight: (XHSS-1) 08/03/1954
Factory production period: 1953 - 1970
Primary service period: 1955 - 1980's
Last official flight: ?

H-34 VARIANTS

1954 Model S-58A XHSS-1 4 Total: 0004
         
1954 Model S-58A HSS-1 217  
1958 Model S-58A HSS-1N 242 Total: 0459
         
1954 Model S-58A H-34A 437 Total: 0437
         
1955 Model S-58A HUS-1 603  
1958 Model S-58A HUS-1G 6 Total: 0609
         
? Model S-58B S-58B 18  
1956 Model S-58C S-58C 17  
? Model S-58D S-58D ? Total: 0035

Grand Total: 1544

1958 Foreign built - England:
Model WS-58 		Wessex Series 360  
? Model WS-58 Wessex Mk. 60 19 Total: 0379
? Foreign built - France:
Model S-58 		HSS-1 49  
? Model S-58 H-34A 136 Total: 0185

Grand Total: 0564

GRAND TOTAL: 2108

H-34 PRODUCTION

Military Helicopters

XHSS-1
Prototype single-engined, 4-bladed rotor,
ASW helicopter for US Navy.
Later redesignated as YHSS-1.
Produced 1953 - 1954
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

BuNo.134667 / 134670 58-1X / 4X 4 Total: 0004

HSS-1
As XHSS-1, production version.
107 later upgraded to HSS-1N.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

BuNo.137849 / 137858 58-005 / 014    
BuNo.138460 / 138493 mixed 58-061 to 128    
BuNo.139017 / 139029 mixed 58-063 to 127    
BuNo.140121 / 140139 mixed 58-165 to 204    
BuNo.141571 / 141602
- BuNo. 141602 to RN as
Wessex prototype, XL722.		 mixed 58-205 to 265    
BuNo.143864 / 143960 mixed 58-450 to 768    
BuNo.145660 / 145669 mixed 58-776 to 824    

Last 2 delivered as SH-34G:

BuNo. 152188, 155290 58-1732, 1813 217 Total: 0217

HSS-1N
As HSS-1, night / bad weather version,
additional avionics.
107 also upgraded from HSS-1.
Produced 1958 - 1966
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

BuNo.145670 / 145712 mixed 58-853 to 1069    
BuNo.147631 / 147635
- 5 to The Netherlands as
141 / 145. 		mixed 58-1145 to 1160    
BuNo.147984 / 148032 mixed 58-1177 to 1300    
BuNo.148934 / 148963 mixed 58-1301 to 1366    
BuNo.149082 / 149087
- 6 to Italy as
MM149082 / MM149087. 		?    
BuNo.149131 / 149133
- 3 to The Netherlands as
138 / 140. 		58-1373 / 1375    
BuNo.149840 / 149842
- 1 to Chile as N-51.
- 2 to The Netherlands as
136, 137. 		mixed 58-1429 to 1442    
BuNo.150730 / 150819
- 3 to Chile as N-52 / N-54.
- 87 to West Germany,
mixed QA+259 to QA+584. 		mixed 58-1458 to 1679    
BuNo.150821, 150822
- 2 to Italy as
MM150821, MM150822. 		58-1666, 1667    

Last 11 delivered as SH-34J:

BuNo.151729 / 151731
- 3 to West Germany as SC+263 / SC+265. 		mixed 58-1590 to 1619    
BuNo.152380, 152381
- 2 to West Germany as SC+266, SC+267. 		58-1733, 1737    
BuNo.153617 / 153622
- 6 to Italy as
MM153617 / MM153622. 		58-1770 / 1775 242 Total: 0242

H-34A
As HSS-1, transport / utility version
for US Army. 21 HUS-1 also transferred.
6 to RCAF as 9630 / 9635, redesignated
as CH-126 in 1968.
Produced 1954 - 1958
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (SI)

53-4475 / 53-4554 mixed 58-015 to 116    
54-882 / 54-937 mixed 58-129 to 240    
54-2860 / 54-2914 mixed 58-241 to 321    
54-2995 / 54-3050 mixed 58-322 to 415    
55-4462 / 55-4504 mixed 58-416 to 575    
56-4284 / 56-4342 mixed 58-616 to 774    
57-1684 / 57-1770 mixed 58-790 to 1029    
58-1721 ? 437 Total: 0437

HUS-1
As HSS-1, transport / utility version
for USMC. 21 to US Army as H-34A,
55-5241 / 55-5261.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

BuNo.143961 / 143983 mixed 58-457 to 516    
BuNo.144630 / 144662 mixed 58-517 to 614    
BuNo.145713 / 145812 mixed 58-797 to 1052    
BuNo.147147 / 147201 mixed 58-1054 to 1164    
BuNo.148053 / 148122 mixed 58-1165 to 1273    
BuNo.148753 / 148822 mixed 58-1281 to 1412    
BuNo.149318 / 149402 mixed 58-1413 to 1509    
BuNo.150195 / 150264 mixed 58-1510 to 1675    
BuNo.150552 / 150580 mixed 58-1676 to 1711    
BuNo.150691
- 1 to Indonesia as H-251. 		58-1411    
BuNo.150717 / 150729 mixed 58-1712 to 1725    

Last 54 delivered as UH-34D:

BuNo.152686 58-1761    
BuNo.153116 / 153133 mixed 58-1762 to 1781    
BuNo.153556 / 153558 58-1778 / 1780    
BuNo.153695 / 153704 58-1789 / 1798    
BuNo.154045 58-1813    
BuNo.154889 / 154902 58-1799 / 1812    
BuNo.156592 / 156598 58-1814 / 1820 603 Total: 0603
25 additional airframes cancelled.

HUS-1G
As HUS-1, version for USCG.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

(USCG) 1332 / 1336 ?    
(USCG) 1343 ? 6 Total: 0006

Civil Helicopters

S-58B
Commercial utility version of H-34A.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

civil reg. ? 18 Total: 0018

S-58C
Commercial passenger version,
more windows and seating.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

civil reg. ? 17 Total: 0017

S-58D
Commercial utility version of H-34A.
Produced
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

civil reg. ? ? Total: ?

 

Grand Total: 1544

Foreign built - England:
Wessex Series
Military version of the S-58.
Produced 1958 - 1970
Westland Helicopters Ltd., Yeovil,
Somerset, England

Wessex HAS.Mk. 1
1958, Royal Navy ASW version.
2 later to HC.Mk. 2, 42 later to HAS.Mk. 3.

(RN) XL727 / XL729 WA001 / WA003    
(RN) XM299 / XM301 WA004 / WA006    
(RN) XM326 / XM331 WA007 / WA012    
(RN) XM832 / XM845 WA013 / WA026    
(RN) XM868 / XM876 WA027 / WA035    
(RN) XM915 / XM931 WA036 / WA052    
(RN) XP103 / XP118 WA054 / WA069    
(RN) XP137 / XP160 WA070 / WA093    
(RN) XS115 / XS128 WA094 / WA107    
(RN) XS149 / XS154 WA108 / WA113    
(RN) XS862 / XS889 WA242 / WA269 140  

Wessex HC.Mk. 2
1963, RAF transport version, engine upgrade.

(RAF) XR497 / XR511 WA122 / WA136    
(RAF) XR515 / XR529 WA137 / WA151    
(RAF) XR588 WA121    
(RAF) XS674 / XS679 WA193 / WA198    
(RAF) XT601 / XT607 WA528 / WA534    
(RAF) XT667 / XT681 WA535 / WA549    
(RAF) XV719 / XV731 WA614 / WA626 72  

Wessex HAS.Mk. 3
1964, Royal Navy prototype ASW
version, engine / avionics upgrade.

(RN) XT255 / XT257 WA239 / WA241 3  

Wessex HCC.Mk. 4
1969, VIP version for Queen's Flight.

(RAF) XV732, XV733 WA627, WA628 2  

Wessex HU.Mk. 5
1963, Royal Navy armed assault version.

(RN) XS241 WA152    
(RN) XS479 / XS500 WA153 / WA174    
(RN) XS506 / XS523 WA175 / WA192    
(RN) XT448 / XT487 WA270 / WA309    
(RN) XT755 / XT767 WA477 / WA489    
(RN) XT768 / XT774 WA550 / WA556 101  

Wessex HAS.Mk. 31A
1962, HAS.Mk. 1 version for Australia,
engine upgrade. 23 later upgraded
as the Mk. 31B.

(RAN) N7-200 / N7-226 WA200 / WA226 27  

Wessex Mk. 52
HC.Mk. 2 version for Iraq.

? ? 12  

Wessex Mk. 53
HC.Mk. 2 version for Ghana.

(Ghana) 9G-630, 9G-631 WA503, WA504 2  

Wessex Mk. 54
HC.Mk. 2 version for Brunei.

? ? 1  

Wessex Mk. 60
HC.Mk. 2 commercial version.

civil reg. mixed WA053 to WA742 19 Total: 0379


Westland Wessex Mk. 60, (c/n: WA740), was first delivered to Bristow
Helicopters Ltd. in England as G-AZBY and was briefy 5N-ALR in Nigeria.
It's career highlight came as a movie prop in Stanley Kubricks's 1987 Vietnam
film "Full Metal Jacket" where it was painted as USMC s/n: EM16.
It's now in New Zealand where up to 2006, it adorned
a local liquor store carpark as a promotional item.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2003.

Foreign built - France:
HSS-1
French built version of the HSS-1.
12 supplied in kitset form from Sikorsky.
5 to Belgium as B4 / B8.
Produced
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

? ? 49  

H-34A
French built version of the H-34A.
38 supplied in kitset form from Sikorsky.
Produced
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

? ? 136 Total: 0185

 

Grand Total: 0564

H-34 CONVERSIONS

US Navy / USMC

HSS-1F 1 HSS-1, 1957-1962, prototype with twin turbine engine upgrade.
YHSS-1N 1 HSS-1(143957), prototype to the HSS-1N.
HSS-1Z 1+ HSS-1, VIP interiors for US Presidential duties.
HUS-1A 40 HUS-1, conversions with amphibious pontoons.
(HUS-1AN) 3 HUS-1A, night flying upgrades.
(HUS-1L) 4 HUS-1A, conversions for Antarctic operations.
HUS-1Z 7 HUS-1, 1960-1962, VIP interiors for US Presidential duties.

US Army

JH-34A 1 H-34A, temporary conversion for armament tests.
VH-34A 4 H-34A, 1958, VIP interiors for US Presidential duties.
(VH-34C) 4 VH-34A, avionics upgrades to "C" standard.
H-34B 1+ H-34A, 1960, minor improvements.
H-34C 190+ H-34A / H-34B, 1961, further improvements.
(JH-34C) 1+ H-34C, temporary conversions for tests.

USAF / US Army / US Navy (1962 redesignations)

CH-34A 1+ 1962, US Army redesignation of the H-34A.
CH-34B 1+ 1962, US Army redesignation of the H-34B.
CH-34C 190+ 1962, US Army redesignation of the H-34C.
21 rebuilt for South Vietnam under MDAP,
new s/n: 63-13190 / 63-13210.
UH-34D 1+ 1962, USMC redesignation of the HUS-1.
54 delivered as such. 23 to USAF, assigned s/n:
63-8248 / 63-8259, 63-13006 / 63-13014,
63-13139, 63-13140.
(HH-34D) 10 UH-34D, transfers to USAF for MDAP supply.
Assigned s/n: 60-6913, 60-6923, 61-4488 / 61-4491,
61-4529, 63-7972 / 63-7974.
(OH-34D) 1+ UH-34D, unofficial designation for observation role.
LH-34D 4 1962, USMC redesignation of the HUS-1L.
VH-34D 7 1962, USMC redesignation of the HUS-1Z.
UH-34E 40 1962, USMC redesignation of the HUS-1A.
HH-34F 6 1962, USCG redesignation of the HUS-1G.
YSH-34G 4 1962, US Navy redesignation of the YHSS-1.
SH-34G 1+ 1962, US Navy redesignation of the HSS-1.
2 delivered as such.
6 via USAF, assigned s/n: 60-5424 / 60-5429,
to Brazil as 8050 / 8055.
(UH-34G) 1+ SH-34G, utility conversions, ASW equipment removed.
VH-34G 1+ 1962, US Navy redesignation of the HSS-1Z.
SH-34H 1 1962, US Navy redesignation of the HSS-1F.
YSH-34J 1 1962, US Navy redesignation of the YHSS-1N.
SH-34J 1+ 1962, US Navy redesignation of the HSS-1N.
11 delivered as such.
(HH-34J) 14 SH-34J, transfers to USAF as SAR helicopters, BuNo.'s retained.
(UH-34J) 1+ SH-34J, utility conversions, ASW equipment removed.

Foreign Conversions

Wessex HAR.Mk. 2 18 HC.Mk. 2, SAR conversions for the RAF.
Wessex HU.Mk. 5C 4 HU.Mk. 5, 1985, transfers to the RAF.
H-34G.I 26 H-34A, 1957, designation for West Germany.
H-34G.II 25 H-34B, 1959, designation for West Germany.
H-34G.III 18 HSS-1N, designation for West Germany, another
75 were delivered designated as the CH-34C.

FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
 - The H-34 served with many air forces and navies worldwide from
   the 1950's up to the 1990's.
 - Civil market upgrades included turbo conversions as the S-58T, S-58ET
   and ex-military conversions as the H-34T.

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