The Hathos Scout Cruiser is a ship built for the purpose of dedicated long-range exploration and research missions. The science facilities on the Hathos are the best that the Romulan had at the time of its construction and was well suited to its intended mission. Early encounters with Klingon forces, however, proved that the Hathos was inadequate when applied to a combat role.

In some limited fleet actions during border skirmishes with the Klingon Empire in the late 2250's the Hathos proved to also be unable to fulfill a combat ELINT role, due in part to the strain on the ship's reactor.