Unmasked: the mean machines of a deadly female marine unit

She may look like a giggling teenaged girl, but she has mastered at least five light weapons, can swim 5km while carrying guns and grenades, and easily take her enemies alive.

China's only female marine brigade was formed in 1995, but until now the mainland media had only provided sketchy details of how the unit was packed with attractive female martial arts masters who underwent ruthless training.

In rare interviews on CCTV during the past two days, deputy unit commander Lieutenant Meng Qiuzhen said the female marines' main missions involved spying and infiltration.

'It may not be very convenient for male soldiers to act on their own in certain scouting missions,' said Lieutenant Meng.

'Examples of such missions are infiltration and spying, which require us to go deep into the enemies' camp to collect intelligence,' she added.

'Girls are more meticulous and observant. They can easily create an illusion and make their enemies underestimate them.'

Lieutenant Meng did not give details about the size of her unit or whether it was being trained to fight a specific enemy.