Sikorsky H-34 / S-58

Foreign service

France

The French Navy adopted the SH-34 Seabat in 1955, using the helicopter during the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] of 1956-62.

Beginning in 1956, the H-34 saw its introduction into combat during intensive operations with the French in Algeria.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] had earlier modified the H-19 and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] with rockets and machine guns for use in a ground attack role; the French Navy performed the same modification to the CH-34 which was developed under the name Pirate and was extensively used in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] airborne operations.

The H-19 proved underpowered for the ground attack role, and the H-21 lacked mobility.

The H-34 was able to carry more armament, including a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 20 mm cannon firing from the cabin door, two [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] firing from the cabin windows to port, and batteries of 37- or 68-mm rockets. 73 mm rockets and additional machine guns were also employed on some versions.

Official evaluations at the time had indicated that the CH-21 was more likely to survive multiple hits by ground fire than was the CH-34; this was assumed to be a consequence of the location and construction of the CH-34's fuel tanks.

France bought 134 Choctaws in parts from the United States and assembled by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

A further 166 were manufactured later locally for the French Army, Navy and Air force, these again produced by Sud-Aviation.