For Zhang Zhe, a sailor in a corvette squadron of the People's Liberation Army navy, the decision to remain in the military would have seemed unimaginable four years ago.

"I joined the navy in December 2009 and, at the beginning of my PLA career, I felt very much a misfit," the 24-year-old said.

"I even told my officer that I wanted to quit the military before my tour of duty was up."

But two years later, when his term was nearing its end, he asked to extend his service, saying, "I have merged with the navy".

"The squadron changed me by injecting me with 'tiger's blood'," Zhang said, referring to the courage of the big cat.

The changes in Zhang have been observed by many around him, including Shen Lihong, an officer in the squadron's political department. Shen said he often used to talk with Zhang to cheer up the young sailor.

"He used to focus on his own feelings and could not adapt well to navy life when he first came to the unit," Shen said of Zhang, who comes from a wealthy family with businesses in real estate.

"Then we decided to help him display his talents in music and dance to his peers so he could start fitting in," Shen said.

"We also told him that joining this squadron means he must become a courageous tiger because all the sailors here are tigers."

The tactics worked. Zhang gradually became attached to the unit, turning from a self-centered boy to a brave seaman, Shen said.

It is no coincidence that both Zhang and Shen referred frequently to tigers, as their squadron has been renowned for its "tiger spirit" for nearly 50 years.

Established in 1958, the elite unit had only light-duty gunboats until recently, when it received the nation's most advanced corvettes.

Even with only the small gunboats, however, the squadron took part in at least six sea battles and won them all, its commanders said.

The Defense Ministry also commended one of the squadron's vessels as a "maritime tiger" after a fierce battle off the coast of Fujian province in 1965.

Wang Zhongcai, commander of the marine garrison that administers the squadron, said, "This is not just an honorable title, but also marks the very emotion that has inspired generations of our soldiers to strive for the best."

Shi Songwen, a steersman on one of the squadron's gunboats, said, "Being a member of the tiger team means you don't have the right to quit, no matter how many difficulties you face".

During an operation last April, the ship on which Shi serves encountered extremely rough waves, and many sailors on board became seasick.

"Like my brothers, I suffered a lot on the ship," Shi said. "But when I saw all of them remaining at their posts, I told myself that I must grit my teeth and carry on to perform my duty, or I would not deserve to share the squadron's honor."

In addition to perseverance and dedication, the squadron calls on its officers and soldiers to keep improving their capabilities and expertise as they receive new ships that are much more advanced and larger than their current gunboats.

Han Jianting, head of the engine section of the CNS Quanzhou, one of the new light-duty corvettes, said it took him more than a year to accustom himself to the new ship's equipment. He also shared his onboard experience with shipyard engineers to help them improve the vessel.

"I submitted 162 suggestions to them and worked with the shipyard to upgrade the equipment," he said.

"I have only a high school diploma, but that doesn't stop me from learning cutting-edge, high-tech weaponry," said Wang Ke, chief missile operator on the CNS Quanzhou.

"We changed the previous tactics and maneuvers used on the old ships and invented a host of new methods," Wang said.

"Today's sea wars are actually contests of information. They also depend on how well we use the advanced weaponry, so we should turn ourselves into 'technologically modernized steel tigers'."

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn