H-34 (France)

This page is about the utility helicopter H-34 (France). For the other version, see H-34.

▄H-34

▄H-34

France

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.3	7.7	8.3

Class:

Attack helicopter

Research:Free

Purchase:390 000

Show in game

Description

The Sikorsky H-34 was manufactured as a piston-engined military helicopter originally intended for anti-submarine warfare; however, it has also seen service as a medium transport helicopter and as a combat helicopter. This tail dragging helicopter has the radial reciprocating engine mounted in the nose of the aircraft, with the driveshaft traversing through the cockpit. French aviation company Sud-Aviation assembled a total of 135 H-34s built in the US, along with a total of 166 H-34s produced by Sud-Aviation under license from Sikorsky for use in the French Air Force, Navy, and Army Aviation (ALAT). Due to the ruggedness of the H-34, it had an impressive track record under French command in the Algerian War where it garnered over 190,000 flying hours evacuating French troops from combat locations, including many night-time operations.

It was introduced in Update 1.87 "Locked On". Unlike other helicopters, the ▄H-34 has a very large size, which comes with severe drawbacks - it is not agile at all and a very big target for enemy anti-aircraft fire. It is, however, quite fast, being able to consistently maintain 300 km/h in level flight. With a range of armaments including bombs, rockets, and ATGMs, the H-34 has a variety of options for dealing with enemy armour; however, be wary of flying too close to enemy SPAA, as its sluggishness and lack of armour protection make it an excellent target.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 500 m198 km/h

Max altitude6 000 m

EngineWright R-1820-84

Power1 420 hp

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 500 m)		Max altitude (metres)
	AB	RB
Stock	182	169	6000
Upgraded	213	198

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural450 km/h

Gear420 km/h

Examine the survivability of the helicopter. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB9 263 → 11 986

RB2 507 → 3 244

SB4 539 → 5 873

Total cost of modifications114 300

212 000

Talisman cost2 100

Crew training110 000

Experts390 000

Aces1 700

Research Aces720 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 300 / 430 %

196 / 196 / 196 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 7 600 Cost: 14 000 220 Replacing helicopter blades Research: 8 500 Cost: 16 000 240 Engine Research: 14 000 Cost: 26 000 400	Flak jacket Research: 7 600 Cost: 14 000 220 Helicopter frame Research: 8 500 Cost: 16 000 240 EFS Research: 19 000 Cost: 35 000 550 Cover Research: 19 000 Cost: 35 000 550	bmg30_belt_pack Research: 7 600 Cost: 14 000 220 Type 61C Research: 8 500 Cost: 16 000 240 bmg30_new_gun Research: 14 000 Cost: 26 000 400

Armaments

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 12 x AS.11 missiles
6 x HVAR rockets
4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun (ammunition: 1 000 rounds)

Setup 210 x 50 kg Type 61C
4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun (ammunition: 1 000 rounds)

The helicopter's machine guns are mounted towards the nose of the helicopter, in front of the landing gear struts. These machine guns can be loaded with one of four different ammo belts (Default, Universal, Tracers, and Stealth). However, owing to their small calibre, they are only effective for attacking very lightly armoured targets (< 10 mm maximum armour thickness), they have limited effectiveness against aircraft and are ultimately useless against armoured targets. Their relatively low rate of fire offers better aim controllability at the expense of total damage output.

The H-34 (France) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns (250 rpg = 1,000 total) + 2 x AS.11 missiles + 6 x HVAR rockets

In this configuration, the H-34 is equipped with two AS.11 ATGM pylons mounted alongside the nose of the aircraft, along with six HVAR unguided rockets mounted on a vertical rail on the left side of the helicopter.

The helicopter's six HVAR rockets with their 36 mm of high-explosive armour penetration are effective at crippling and possibly destroying enemy tanks with well-placed shots to the roof, engine deck, and tracks. However, their awkward placement on a vertical rail on the left side of the helicopter, as well as their relatively slower velocity and increased drop compared to most other unguided rockets, makes precisely aiming these rockets tricky.

A far more effective weapon versus armoured targets, the helicopter's two AS.11 ATGM's with their 600 mm of armour penetration can easily damage and destroy enemy tanks and other armoured targets with a well-placed hit. However, this helicopter can only carry two of these missiles at a time, the smallest ATGM loadout of any helicopter in the game, which severely limits the helicopter's combat potential.

• 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns (250 rpg = 1,000 total) + 10 x 50 kg Type 61C bombs (500 kg total)

In this configuration, the H-34 is equipped with ten 50 kg Type-61C bombs, with six bombs loaded onto external pylons on the sides of the helicopter, and four bombs mounted on rails below the fuselage. These bombs can destroy enemy armoured vehicles when dropped within 2 meters of the target. Their small explosive mass requires particularly careful aim in order to effectively strike at ground targets. However, care must still be taken in order to remain out of the 67 m fragmentation radius of these bombs in order to avoid splash damage to the helicopter itself.

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in a helicopter, the features of using the helicopter in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Surprisingly fast, able to maintain speeds in excess of 322 km/h (200 mph) in level flight
• Decent structural durability, though this isn't saying much

Cons:

• Large size makes it a large target
• Sluggish handling characteristics
• Weak engine and rotor transmission durability - a few hits from light-caliber rounds can quickly destroy them
• Awkward HVAR rocket placement makes accurate aim tricky
• Bomb loadout is inadequate against heavily armoured targets

History

The H-34 was developed in the early 1950s as the successor to the H-19 Chickasaw. The new helicopter was enlarged and was overall more powerful than its predecessor, yet still retained some core design elements, such as the nose-mounted radial engine under the cockpit.

The H-34 performed its maiden flight in March 1954 and was adopted into service shortly afterwards, first with the U.S. Navy in 1955 and then U.S. Army in 1956.

However, the H-34 was also widely exported and built under licence by other nations. France was one of the earliest nations to adopt the H-34, with it entering service in 1956. France initially received numerous American-built disassembled H-34s, which were then reassembled in France. Later on, the Sud-Aviation company acquired a licence to produce the H-34s locally. In the end, close to 300 French H-34s were built and used by the French forces. The vehicle was actively used during the war in Algeria, marking the first mass use of attack helicopters by the French army.

Of course, the H-34 Choctaw saw service with many more countries around the world and participated in numerous conflicts of the '50s and '60s. Although the helicopter was being phased out from military service with most operators by the 1970s, the H-34 (or S-58 if the civilian designation is used) is still being used for civilian operations today. In total, over 2,100 H-34s were built when taking into account all modifications of the type.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the H-34 (France) from live.warthunder.com.

Images

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Videos

The Shooting Range #156 - Pages of History section at 05:13 discusses the H-34.

See also

Related aircraft

• Sikorsky H-34 (USA)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Mil Mi-4 Hound

External links

• [Devblog] H-34 Choctaw: A Worthy Start

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Utility	H-34
Attack	MH-60L DAP
Export	▄H-34 · AH-60