The guy who came up with the photos interviewed an argentine veteran who claims it’s a piece of the wreckage of Nick Taylor’s aircraft that was shot down at Goose Green. Quite how he managed to get it back from the islands after the surrender would be interesting.

I shared the photo before I came on here with a RN officer who was a spanner monkey during Corporate, and he shared it with some ex harrier mates who didn’t recognise it as a Sea Harrier part. So, I had already ruled that one out. However, it would seem its origin is more likely British, from the internal colouration. Still puzzling.

Because removing these metal parts would adversely affect the accuracy of the compass-swing.

Why would these attachment bolts be likely to be removed during a compass-swing? Presumably they are in close proximity to the (magnetic) master-compass. Is this an access-panel to the master-compass?

That is what I believe the cover to be for. It supposedly was recovered in 82, from a certain theatre of operations.