I think the Arpeggio of Blue Steel manga was the inspiration for Kantai Collection, or at least made shipgirls popular enough that they mae a game out of them. And then Azur Lane came out as well a few years later.
Depending on who else signs up and what they pick, I might also go with IJNS Yukikaze.
Depending on who else signs up and what they pick, I might also go with IJNS Yukikaze.