Creators' Notes November It's the Oklahoma, the infamous tragic ship... (lifts head) Though I only knew about that afterwards. I own this interesting map of the USA. Every state on the map has something the state is famous for on it, like how there was an Indian on Oklahoma - and that's why the Oklahoma looks like this now~ Morgan In American history, Oklahoma was a crossroads between many Indian cultures, so we thought to incorporate native American elements into her design. Her Indian tomahawk reflects the idea that battleships might find themselves in short-ranged melee, especially in context of the abyssal threat that Pacific's world design revolves around. Of course, from another perspective it creates a perfect contrast between her and her revolver-wielding sister. While both were contemporaries, the Nevada had a glorious record. In contrast, Okie was nearly forgotten by history, and she was only brought to attention through the work of an Oklahomian Congressman in the early 2000s. Zeroblaze A tragic girl. The mole under her left eye seems to illustrate the point that she will never receive happiness. As her commander, can you grant her the happiness she hoped for? In Chinese, moles are literally "tear spots"

Trivia Schmitt was the first military chaplain in the history of the U.S. Navy to be killed in action. When the Oklahoma was hit, he and the wounded crew under his care were trapped in the rapidly flooding infirmary. While the other crew were trying to pull him out through a small porthole, Smith realized that the rising water level was rapidly reducing the survival rate of the other men. Under the excuse that he was an officer, he refused rescue and at the cost of his own life, rescuing 12 sailors in the brief 20 minutes for the battleship to sink. * The very last time Okie's sailors went on short leave was at Hawaii, and much activity took place in the infamous Black Cat, a bar-nightclub-"entertainment" all in one stop. In order to attract sailors, the Black Cat served good and cheap food. At the time onboard food was decidedly mediocre, so Okie would definitely have remembered this vividly. (Additional note from Morgane: The Black Cat is now a gentleman's club/cabaret, but it still exists. Worth checking out for the historical reasons alone.)

I'm USS Oklahoma, s-sir! Thanks for remembering that I exist... About me? W-well, I'm just a girl with terrible luck. Flu, freak storms, torpedoes ... Trouble just seems to find me. My big guns and my armor did me no good at all when they came on December 7th. I was struck so many times! I could still remember that horrible scene. Everyone was dying around me, and ... they were just there, and I couldn't do a thing to save them. I couldn't even save myself. I can't do anything right... Not even an introduction...Maybe it's best if they just forgot that I existed...

Ah, what am I saying...Sorry, sir. It's j-just that when you ask about me, I...I haven't really done anything worth asking. You know that. I know that. Father Smith knew that. But he, he always comforted me, s-saying that my past didn't matter. Only the present does. *Deep breath* Sorry sir. I will do my best. Because no matter how useless I was, I can't change my past. I can only change my present. That's what Father Smith said before he was gone. Thank you again for not forgetting me. For my sisters, for the world, I will do my best!

STEC's comments: Historically speaking, the crew of the Oklahoma possessed extraordinary courage. After the Oklahoma sank, most of them relocated to the nearby Maryland and kept fighting. But the Oklahoma's luck was truly terrible. She never recovered from the Pearl Harbor attack and all efforts to salvage her failed. Even the Navy had to declare her a loss. On her way to the San Francisco Bay scrapyard, she encountered an unusual storm and sank in half an hour. Her wreckage was never found. A kind and delicate but somewhat passive girl, STEC notes that Okie displays a rare spirit of self-sacrifice in the call of duty. STEC reminds admirals to treat her well. Shipgirls who are as gentle as her in speech and intention are rare indeed.