The Durrett Light Cruiser is closely related to the Miranda Light Cruiser. Part of the same construction initiative, the Durrett was intended to serve as a successor to the Saladin Destroyer, performing most of that ship's system defense mission functions. However, the Durrett was also meant to act as a cheaper alternative to the Miranda. The Durrett Light Cruiser has slightly less overall firepower than a Miranda but costs comparatively less to build.

Despite the construction rate of the Durrett Light Cruiser it never caught on and was eventually abandoned. The Miranda proved to be a much more effective cruiser design with the potential for much longer service lives thanks to their modular nature. The Durretts simply could not be as easily upgraded to new technologies as the Miranda and the expense to do so outweighed their usefulness.

By the year 2300, the Durrett Light Cruisers were relegated to backwater systems and colonies, including running patrols in new Federation protectorates. As these ships broke down they were scrapped or sold off and replaced with newer ships that could perform the jobs better.