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-58 XHSS-1 4 Total: 0004
         
1954 Model S-58A HSS-1 253  
1958 Model S-58A HSS-1N 171 Total: 0424
         
1954 Model S-58A H-34A 557  
1963 Model S-58 CH-34C 21 Total: 0578
         
1955 Model S-58 HUS-1 629  
1958 Model S-58 HUS-1G 6 Total: 0635
         
1957 Model S-58 H-34G.I 26  
1959 Model S-58 H-34G.II 25  
1963 Model S-58 H-34G.III 89 Total: 0140
         
1955 Model S-58B S-58B 22  
1956 Model S-58C S-58C 17  
1964 Model S-58D S-58D 1 Total: 0040

Grand Total: 1821

1958 Foreign built - England:
 Model WS-58 		Wessex Series 378 Total: 0378
1956 Foreign built - France:
 Model S-58 		H-34A 104  
1956 Model S-58 HSS-1 37 Total: 0141

Grand Total: 0519

GRAND TOTAL: 2340

H-34 PRODUCTION

Military Helicopters

XHSS-1
Prototype single-engined, 4-bladed rotor,
ASW helicopter for US Navy. Later to
YHSS-1 then first 3 to H-34A for France.
Produced 1953 - 1954
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

BuNo.134667 / 134670 58-1X / 58-4X 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 / 58-014    
BuNo.138460 / 138473 mixed 58-128 to 58-164    
BuNo.138474 / 138493 mixed 58-016 to 58-062    
BuNo.139017 / 139029 mixed 58-063 to 58-127    
BuNo.140121 / 140139 mixed 58-165 to 58-204    
BuNo.141571 / 141590 mixed 58-205 to 58-244    
BuNo.141591 58-245N    
BuNo.141592 / 141602
- BuNo. 141602 to RN as
Wessex prototype, XL722.		 mixed 58-246 to 58-265    
BuNo.141602
- Reassigned from c/n: 58-265.		 58-444    
BuNo.143864 / 143960
- 3 to Italy as MM143899, MM143940,
MM143949.		 mixed 58-450 to 58-768    
BuNo.145660 / 145670 mixed 58-776 to 58-853    
BuNo.145672 58-874 218  
(Argentina - Navy) 0407 58-611 1  
(France - Navy) mixed 445 to 1376 mixed 58-445 to 58-1376 14  
(Japan - JMSDF) 8551 / 8558 mixed 58-808 to 58-1249 8  

Foreign assembled - France:
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

mixed SKY.922 to SKY.1007 mixed 58-922 to 58-1007 (SA.39 / SA.50) 12 Total: 0253

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.145671 58-862    
BuNo.145673 / 145712 mixed 58-886 to 58-1069    
BuNo.147984 / 148032 mixed 58-1177 to 58-1300    
BuNo.148934 / 148963 mixed 58-1301 to 58-1366    
BuNo.149084 / 149087 mixed 58-1404 to 58-1418    
BuNo.150821, 150822
- 2 to Italy as MM150821, MM150822.		 58-1666, 58-1667 126  
(Chile) N-51 58-1429 1  
(Italy) MM80163, MM80164 58-990, 58-991    
(Italy) MM80237 58-1260 3  

Foreign assembled - Japan:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Nagoya, Japan

(JMSDF) 8561 / 8569 mixed 58-1333 to 58-1543 9  

Last 32 delivered as SH-34J:

BuNo.147631 / 147635
- 5 to The Netherlands as 141 / 145.		 mixed 58-1145 to 58-1160    
BuNo.149131 / 149133
- 3 to The Netherlands as 138 / 140.		 58-1373 / 58-1375    
BuNo.149082, 149083
- 2 to Italy as MM149082, MM149083.		 58-1394, 58-1395    
BuNo.149840 / 149842
- 3 to The Netherlands as 135 / 137.		 mixed 58-1430 to 58-1611    
BuNo.150725
- 1 to The Netherlands.		 58-1721    
BuNo.150729
- 1 to The Netherlands as 134.		 58-1597    
BuNo.151729 / 151731
- 3 to West Germany as 82+01 / 82+03.		 mixed 58-1590 to 58-1619    
BuNo.152380, 152381
- 2 to West Germany as 82+04, 82+05.		 58-1733, 58-1737    
BuNo.153617 / 153622
- 6 to Italy as MM153617 / MM153622. 		58-1770 / 58-1775 26  
(USAF) 60-5424 / 60-5429
- 6 to Brazil as 8550 / 8555.		 mixed 58-1293 to 58-1309 6 Total: 0171

H-34A
As HSS-1, transport / utility version for
US Army. 21 HUS-1 also transferred.
12 to Nicaragua as FAN516 / FAN527.
Produced 1954 - 1958
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (SI)

53-4475 / 53-4554 mixed 58-015 to 58-116    
54-882 / 54-937 mixed 58-129 to 58-240    
54-2860 / 54-2914 mixed 58-241 to 58-321    
54-2995 / 54-3050 mixed 58-322 to 58-415    
55-4462 / 55-4504 mixed 58-416 to 58-575    
56-4284 / 56-4342 mixed 58-616 to 58-774    
57-1684 / 57-1771 mixed 58-790 to 58-1034 437  
(RCAF) 9630 / 9635 mixed 58-160 to 58-245 6  
(France - Air Force) mixed 248 to 1130 mixed 58-248 to 58-1130 82  

Foreign assembled - France:
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

mixed SKY.500 to SKY.832 mixed 58-500 to 58-832 (SA.7 / SA.38) 32 Total: 0557

CH-34C
As H-34A, various improvements,
all to South Vietnam under MDAP.
Produced 1963
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (SI)

63-13190 / 63-13210 mixed 58-1738 to 58-1760 21 Total: 0021

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 58-516    
BuNo.144630 / 144662 mixed 58-517 to 58-614    
BuNo.145713 / 145812 mixed 58-712 to 58-1052    
BuNo.147147 / 147201 mixed 58-1054 to 58-1164    
BuNo.148053 / 148122 mixed 58-1165 to 58-1273    
BuNo.148753 / 148822 mixed 58-1281 to 58-1412    
BuNo.149318 / 149402 mixed 58-1413 to 58-1509    
BuNo.150195 / 150219 mixed 58-1510 to 58-1559    
BuNo.150691
- 1 to Indonesia as HUS-1Z, H-251.		 58-1411 462  
(Japan) JA7201, JA7202 58-945, 58-946 2  
(Russia) CCCP-27491, CCCP-27492
- Both delivered as HUS-1Z.		 58-1241, 58-1242 2  

Last 163 delivered as UH-34D:

BuNo.150220 / 150264 mixed 58-1560 to 58-1675    
BuNo.150552 / 150580 mixed 58-1676 to 58-1711    
BuNo.150717 / 150724 mixed 58-1712 to 58-1720    
BuNo.150726 / 150729 58-1722 / 58-1725    
BuNo.150730
- 1 to Chile as N-52.		 58-1623    
BuNo.152686 58-1761    
BuNo.153116 / 153133 mixed 58-1762 to 58-1788    
BuNo.153556 / 153558 58-1778 / 58-1780    
BuNo.153695 / 153704 58-1789 / 58-1798    
BuNo.154889 / 154902 58-1799 / 58-1812    
BuNo.156592 / 156598 58-1814 / 58-1820    
(USAF) 63-8248 / 63-8259 mixed 58-1615 to 58-1714    
(USAF) 63-13006 / 63-13014 mixed 58-1726 to 58-1736    
(USAF) 63-13139, 63-13140 58-1744, 58-1747 163 Total: 0629
25 additional airframes cancelled.

HUS-1G
As HUS-1, version for USCG.
Produced 1958
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (S)

(USCG) 1332 / 1336 mixed 58-985 to 58-1063    
(USCG) 1343 58-1068 6 Total: 0006

H-34G.I / .II / .III
Version for West Germany. .I (H-34A),
.II (H-34B), .III (HSS-1N / H-34C).
Produced 1957 - 1965
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut (SI)

H-34G.I

(West Germany s/n) mixed 58-532 to 58-883 26  

H-34G.II

(West Germany s/n) 58-1089 / 58-1112    
(West Germany s/n) 58-1135 25  

H-34G.III
Assigned BuNo. 150733 / 150819,
152188, 155290.

(West Germany s/n) mixed 58-1458 to 58-1813 65  
(Israel s/n) mixed 58-1549 to 58-1657 24 Total: 00140

Civil Helicopters

S-58B
Commercial utility version of H-34A.
1 (c/n: 58-387) converted from S-58.
Produced 1955 - 1958
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

civil reg. mixed 58-140 to 58-1167 22 Total: 0022

S-58C
Commercial passenger version,
more windows and seating. 7
to Belgium as B9 / B15.
Produced 1956 - 1958
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

civil reg. mixed 58-310 to 58-836 17 Total: 0017

S-58D
Commercial utility version of H-34A.
2 ex-military also converted.
Produced 1964
Sikorsky Stratford, Connecticut

CF-OKB (civil reg.) 58-1573 1 Total: 0001

 

Grand Total: 1821

Foreign built - England:
Wessex Series
Military version of the S-58. Became
Westland Helicopters Ltd. in 1961.
Produced 1958 - 1971
Westland Aircraft 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  
7 additional airframes cancelled.

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
1964, HC.Mk. 2 version for Iraq.

(Iraq) 588 / 599 WA227 / WA238 12  

Wessex Mk. 53
1966, HC.Mk. 2 version for Ghana.

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

Wessex Mk. 54
1966, HC.Mk. 2 version for Brunei.

(Brunei) AMDB-101, AMDB-106 WA695, WA563 2  

Wessex Mk. 60
1958, HC.Mk. 2 commercial version.

civil reg. mixed WA053 to WA742 17 Total: 0378


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:
 H-34A
H-34A version for French Air Force.
32 also supplied as kitsets from Sikorsky.
Produced
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

SA.1 / SA.6 SA.1 / SA.6    
SA.51 / SA.118 SA.51 / SA.118    
SA.151 / SA.180 SA.151 / SA.180 104 Total: 0104

HSS-1
HSS-1 version for French Navy.
12 also supplied as kitsets from Sikorsky.
Produced
Sud-Aviation (SNCASE), Toulouse, France

SA.119 / SA.144 SA.119 / SA.144    
mixed SA.147 to SA.183 mixed SA.147 to SA.183 32  
(Belgium) B4 / B8 mixed SA.145 to SA.185 5 Total: 0037

 

Grand Total: 0519

H-34 CONVERSIONS

Military 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) 7 HUS-1A, conversions for Antarctic operations.
HUS-1Z 7 HUS-1, 1960-1962, VIP interiors for US Presidential duties.
Additional 2 for Russia and 1 for Indonesia as new-builds.

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 also new-built for South Vietnam.
UH-34D 1+ 1962, USMC redesignation of the HUS-1.
163 also delivered as new-built.
(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 7 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 1 1962, US Navy redesignation of the YHSS-1 (BuNo. 134670).
SH-34G 1+ 1962, US Navy redesignation of the HSS-1.
(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.
32 also delivered as new-built.
(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, 1976, SAR conversions for the RAF.
Wessex HU.Mk. 5C 4 HU.Mk. 5, 1985, transfers to the RAF.
CH-126 6 RCAF H-34A, 1968-1972, CAF redesignation of earlier deliveries.

Civil Conversions

S-58E / F / G / H / J 1+ H-34 / S-58 airframes, various grades of civil conversion.
S-58T 175+ H-34 / S-58 airframes, 1970, twin-turboshaft conversion for civil applications.
Conversions initially by Sikorsky (as refit kits) then by California Helicopters
International who purchased all rights in 1981. Variations include the:
S-58BT, S-58DT, S-58ET, S-58FT, S-58HT and S-58JT.
H-34T 1+ Conversions for foreign military customers to S-58T standards.

FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
 - The H-34 served with many air forces, armies and navies worldwide from
   the 1950's up to the 1990's.
 - Large civil market sales for various commercial heavy-lift duties.

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