[3] During the Second World War, Belle Poule sailed to the United Kingdom after the Fall of France and was used by the Free French Naval Forces, returning to Brest in 1945.

In the early 20th century, the French Navy scrapped its aging traditional sailing ships, Melpomène in 1904, and Borda in 1914.

Instead, it chose a replica of a cod fishing schooner, which had the advantage of being both maneuverable, and strong enough to sustain the weather of the winter around Brest.

[9] In the morning of 18 June 1940, Lieutenant-Commander Cros, in charge of both schooners, was ordered to prepare for evacuating the students of the school in the face of the German invasion of France.

[10] The British boarded Belle Poule in the night of 2 July as part of Operation Catapult, taking the French personnel prisoner.

[8] On 16 November 1940, Belle Poule and Étoile left Falmouth and sailed to Portsmouth to join the Free French naval school, held on Président-Théodore-Tissier.

[11] From November 1940, Belle Poule sailed each day of the week to train gunners, helmsmen, gabiers and commandos for the FNFL and for the Royal Navy, with Ensign Walmeyer acting as a liaison officer.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth paid the ships a visit, and Blonsard was awarded the Croix de Guerre for saving Belle Poule.

[13] Belle Poule and Étoile sail around Brest during the winter, and occasionally participate in meetings during the summer,[13] mainly in European waters.