Photo of Royal Marine died 1944 HMS Fiji

[joboy]

There are so many adaptions and modifications of guns to suit the particular needs of which country's navy,class of ship or shore establishment .......images of which can be seen here;
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=20mm+Oerlikon+cannon+ROYAL+NAVY&client=firefox-a&hs=O2R&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&imgil=JZ4tmbJcpv0dpM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQQw3x95GjvupQgXlk9yBAWiiiZt_tbEILJf6LtFH6myPoAIKY%253B437%253B447%253BpoqfbStB2CXLgM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.navweaps.com%25252FWeapons%25252FWNBR_2cm-85_GAM.htm&source=iu&usg=__P1RUmfnaeUxmQLpLFQ7jkfyHqks%3D&sa=X&ei=tT5YU6CFPOmjiAejxoCICg&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=j4P2_1XdEhk_uM%253A%3BQesU9wu7QsQdYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flh5.ggpht.com%252F_kIWY2DV0KnE%252FS6WkGRzmtXI%252FAAAAAAAAGGo%252FpVKTX9Hwe5k%252FTwin%25252020mm%252520Oerlikon%252520cannon%252520mount.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F03%252Fweekend-warships-1-uss-san-diego-cl-
53.html%3B492%3B512

that would make it really difficult to define the type of gun that we see in the photo of James Arthur Philip Smith.
It is interesting to see the number of gun platforms and their shape some being circular and others static and the gunner being strapped in so that he can move 360 degrees quickly and without difficulty.
Joe

[youngtug]

There is a shrink link tool at the bottom of the page, gives you this; 
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0z0g/

I don't think it is an oerlikon though.

[Greensleeves]

I do most sincerely apologise to you all for not responding to all your wonderful observations.  Thank you all so much - I'll go through them carefully now and hang my head in shame for neglecting you all.

Kind regards and thanks
GS

[Greensleeves]

Once again, thanks for all this useful input.  Interesting that it is a gun platform behind him.  I will have to try to find out when he joined HMS Fiji if I can.  Would be interesting if this photo was taken aboard the Fiji; even more poignant. 

I have read the account by the RM musician on the Cathedral website and found it really moving and it certainly brings home the horror of the situation.

Incidentally I see a number '2' on the side of the gun.  Would that have any relevance?

[macintosh]

I think what you see as the figure 2 is a piece of cable tray with either electic cables or small instrument pipework, does look like a 2


James

[Greensleeves]

Thanks for that James.  It does help to have input from people who know what they are talking about.  The nearest I've come to being aboard a naval vessel was in nineteen-fifty-mumble when I was a kid and swam round HMS Eagle when she was in a bay near Akrotiri in Cyprus.

All the comments on this photo has certainly made me look at it in a new light.  I would like to think it was the Fiji and that he had just come aboard with his kit-bag.  But I suppose that's something we'll never know.  But I am so grateful for the interest you have all shown in James A P Smith and the fate of HMS Fiji.

[bugle boy]

The nearest I've come to being aboard a naval vessel was in nineteen-fifty-mumble when I was a kid and swam round HMS Eagle when she was in a bay near Akrotiri in Cyprus.

I was in Cyprus in 1957/58  places like zeros,Platres [Troodos Mountains] Famagusta. I guess you were on the RAF base greensleeves? nice island. 

[joboy]

There is a shrink link tool at the bottom of the page, gives you this; 
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0z0g/

Thanks for doing that YT ..... I am too old in the tooth to understand all this new fangled stuff 

[joboy]

Reading from an entry on HMS Fiji's history it says;
'Before she could join the taskforce, at 18.00 hours on 1 Sep, 1940, U-32 attacked the Dakar Task Force (Operation Menace) about 40 miles north-northeast of Rockall and reported a hit with its last torpedo on the troop transport Scythia, but in fact HMS Fiji (58) (Capt W.G. Benn, RN) was damaged and managed to return under own power to the Clyde, arriving on the evening of 3 September.
Five ratings were killed.
The cruiser was repaired at Greenock for six months.
She was fitted with radar and her Anti-Aircraft armament was also marginally increased.'

but no information as to what AA armament was added.
Narrowing down the possibilties it could have had added a single barrelled pom pom in the photo which was obviously an army modification.
Joe