Browning MG on beach?

Can't say I'm convinced.
"MYSTERY surrounds the identity of an object discovered by a father and his children in the rock pools at Spittal beach.
John Lee, of Tweedmouth, was hunting for crabs with his children when they came across what looked like an old military weapon.
“While exploring the rock pools along the beach with my children we stumbled upon, what looked like, an old gun of some sort,” John explained. “My son who’s six quite likes all that sort of thing, and from my own point of view I was quite interested.”
John took photographs, and sent them to various museums around the country to see if anyone could identify it. “We have had quite a mixed response!” he said. “The Wings museum in Sussex came back and said that they thought it was a Browning 303, which is an old WW2 aircraft machine gun. They also said that, despite its condition, it might still need to be deactivated.
“Another place thought it was an old navy gun, and another didn’t think it was a gun at all!”"
Object found on beach may be a WWII machine gun - Local Headlines - Berwick Advertiser

 

Doesn't look like a Browning - more 20mm ? I don't recognize the mounting - possibly Naval......

 

It could be a gun, but its not a 303. The "receiver" is the wrong shape and size (too large in relation to the "barrel", too rounded on the front).

 

Too funny the subject of deactivation came up before anyone seems to know what it actually is! LOL

 

It looks more like a bridge telegraph to me. You know, that piece of equipment that would mechanically repeat the orders down below for speed or to reverse engines. The curved portion there would have a handle sticking out and the "barrel" would be part of the tubing that carried the cables to repeat the setting down below.

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I agree: Not a gun, much less an MG. However, I'll give the finders an A for a good imagination!

 

Damn! Now you've done it. I thought my discovery of what is undoubtedly the telegraph from the Bismarck would remain a secret.

 

And I thought I had bad eyes, it is clearly a rare Bofors 20MM L/60 twin, the half-scale version, with one barrel removed. Obviously not a Browning. Can not believe a little corrosion confused you guys!.

Gaines