The H-23F became a four-seat model with enlarged crew cabin. Additional changes included the use of the VO-540-A1B engine of 305 horsepower. The following H-23G offered seating for three personnel and dual-control features for both pilot positions. This mark was largely based on the preceding H-23F line.
The US Navy followed its own naming convention and tagged the UH-12A as the HTE-1. They were also two-seat airframes but offered dual-controls for both positions. Interestingly, this mark also showcased a tricycle-style wheeled undercarriage. Seventeen of the type were manufactured. The HTE-1 was then followed by the HTE-2 which was the H-23B and its Franklin O-335-6 piston engine of 200 horsepower. 35 examples were procured.
The Royal Navy followed suit and purchased the Hiller design under two marks - Hiller HT.Mk 1 and HT.Mk 2. The Mk 1 were ex-US Navy mounts (HTE-2 models) while the Mk 2 were UH-12E production models. Numbers totaled 20 and 21 respectively and primarily held as trainers out of RNAS Culdrose (Cornwall). The Canadian Army utilized the Hiller design as well, this under the C-112 "Noman" designation.
In 1962, the United States military underwent a branches-wide designation revision which changed all H-23 designations to the "OH" format. H-23B became OH-23B, H-23C became OH-23C and so on (see variants section for complete list). Many OH-23 variants were based on existing civilian-minded Hiller marks including the original UH-12A. The UH-12B was the basis for the US Navy HTE-1 while the UH-12C was the H-23C. The UH-12 was the H-23D and so forth.
The OH-23 proved exceedingly popular on the world market beyond its use by the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. The list included Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay among others.
The OH-23 served American forces during the Korean War (1950-1953) as one of the handful of helicopters present in the conflict. The conflict marked the first practical use of rotary-wing aircraft in a modern war despite their (limited) use in the latter years of World War 2. The Hiller aircraft was used in the mission liaison, scouting, observation, general service, trainer and MEDEVAC role in the war, operated alongside the similar Bell Model 47/H-13 "Sioux" helicopter lines. The primary military variant became the OH-23D. As with the H-13 line, the OH-23 saw some combat service in the early years of the Vietnam War. They were replaced, in time, by the much improved Hughes OH-6A "Cayuse" light helicopter.
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