#ghan 1

French H-34s Mounted with 20mm Cannons

These photographs show French Sikorsky H-34 helicopters belonging to    GHAN N°1 (Groupe d’Hélicoptères de l’Aéronavale (Navy Helicopter Group) No.1 on operations during the Algerian War. The aircraft have been fitted with former German 20x82mm MG 151 cannon mounted as a door gun.

In Algeria a number of aircraft were adapted to provide fire support for air assault operations with Piasecki H-21s and Sikorsky H-34 (known as the HSS-1 in French service) both being tested in the field mounted with machine guns, 20mm auto-cannon and rockets. The developments have been attributed to  Colonel Félix Brunet and Captain Emile Martin. The Sikorsky proved to be the better, more manoeuvrable platform and some H-34s were fitted with what were colloquially known as ‘flowerpot’ mounts - these pedestals could be fitted with specially adapted MG 151/20s. 

Another shot of an MG 151/20 mounted in a French H-34 (source)

The German surplus MG 151/20s had a formidable rate of fire of over 700 rounds per minute. They had been manufactured by Mauser and had been fitted to various aircraft including the German Bf 109, the Japanese Ki-61-I and the Italian C.205 and G.55. 

In Algeria the MG 151s were also mounted in vehicles such as Citroen 2 CV jeeps, fitted on similar ‘flowerpot’ mounts. The guns could lay down a substantial base of fire but ammunition was limited by the helicopter’s capacity. The MG 151/20 would also be later mounted to Aérospatiale Alouette III by the Portuguese and Rhodesians. 

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