"Bow of USS St. Louis (CL-49), showing torpedo damage received during the Battle of Kolombangara. Photographed while the ship was under repair at Tulagi on 20 July 1943. USS Vestal (AR-4) is alongside.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives #80-G-259410."
Look closer. You have palm trees in the field over the gun. The gun is being towed backwards, and the ground under the gun is just NOT THERE. This photo is hodge podge of different shots. Just my opinion.
Plenty of pictures out there of Flax 18 s being towed, most show the barrel forward.
Flak 18 and palm trees and that looks like a Olive tree right behind the half track, they had all those in north Africa, Sicily, Italy.
And the officer holding the sign being out of character ??
Who knows what the heck a officer might or might not do ?
Odd picture with odd lighting, some obvious retouching, who knows.