It should be noted that the US military restructuring of 1962 forced a change to all designations of operational aircraft at the time, hence the mentions above. As such, the H-34A were now referred to as the CH-34A. Likewise, the H-34B was now the CH-34B and so on. See the variants listing for a full report of the designation changes.
Commercial Choctaws were available in a variety of configurations. These were noted by their Sikorsky "S-" designations becoming the S-58 base cargo model, the S-58B improved cargo model, the S-58C passenger airliner/transport model, the S-58D freighter/airliner model, the S-58T conversion models fitted with turboshafts instead of radials, the S-58 "Heli-Camper" fitting Wright Cyclone R-1820-24 series engines and the "Orlando Airliner" 18-seat passenger transport.
The Choctaw was produced overseas via license-production in France and in Britain. The French received one batch of 134 Choctaws in parts from the United States and assembled them under the Sud-Aviation banner. A further 166 were manufactured on French soil as new-build Choctaws for the French Army, Navy and Air force, these again produced by Sud-Aviation. The British took to building their Choctaws under the Westland brand label and afforded the system the designation of "Wessex" with the Royal Navy becoming a notable operator of these machines (turbine-powered), utilizing them in the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role. Other British-produced Wessex's were marketed to foreign military and civilian operators.
Operators of the Choctaw covered the globe with use by Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Israel, Italy, Philippines, South Vietnam, Spain, Turkey and Thailand to name a few.
Perhaps its most notable use was in the hands of US forces in the Vietnam War. Though initially delayed into action, some twenty US Army CH-34's made their way into the theater and was utilized wherever necessary. This included MEDEVAC roles, cargo transport for supply and resupply and as an offensive weapons platform. In the latter role, the CH-34 became one of the earliest attempts by American warplanners to arm a helicopter to be used as a gunship. These Choctaws (known as "Stingers") sported two M60C series general purpose machine guns and 2 x 2.75" 19-shot rocket pods comprising the TK-1 (Temporary Kit-1) later used on the successful Bell UH-1 "Huey" line of gunships. The Choctaw operated in the theater for a surprisingly lengthy period of time, proving a reliable workhorse in the process. Even the arrival of the fabled Huey systems did not force the Choctaw completely from the action as Choctaws were still in service with the USMC even after the introduction of the UH-1 series. All remaining CH-34's were eventually handed over to the South Vietnamese government as American involvement in the conflict drew to a close.
Some 1,800 Choctaws were eventually produced.
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