After the first sixteen months of the war the building of new life-boats almost ceased, and during the five years, eight months and five days of war, the Institution was able to send to the coast only seventeen new life-boats instead of the sixty or more which would have been sent in normal times. The seventeen life-boats were sent as follows : 1939 - Seven after the outbreak of war on the 3rd of September.

1940 - Six.

1941 - Three.

1942 - None.

1943 - One.

1944 - None.

1945 - None before the end of the war on the 8th of May.

Two foreign life-boats were added to the fleet. One was a French life-boat, Jean Charcot, which escaped from Finistere, when France surrendered in 1940.

The other was a Belgian life-boat, Ministre Anseele, picked up derelict in the English Channel in 1940. Both were put in the reserve fleet. The Jean Charcot served at Holyhead, but rescued no lives. The Ministre Anseele served at Donaghadee, Holyhead, Pwllheli and Plymouth and rescued five lives..