SAN DIEGO, 3 Feb. 2009. General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, won two contracts totaling $34.6 million from the U.S. Navy to modernize the amphibious assault ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) and maintain the amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8).

Under the first contract, valued at $26.3 million, NASSCO will upgrade the Germantown's electrical generation and power distribution systems.

This new contract follows a $100,000 award to NASSCO last July for preparatory work for the ship's modernization. Additional contracts are expected to be awarded for other hull, mechanical and engineering work.

The 610-foot-long ship was commissioned in February 1986 and is homeported in San Diego.

The second contract, valued at $8.3 million, authorizes NASSCO to perform routine maintenance aboard the Dubuque. From mid-February through April, NASSCO will perform upkeep work on the ship's engineering plant and in crew living spaces.

This contract is a follow-on award to a maintenance agreement for LPD-class ships previously awarded to NASSCO. The 570-foot-long ship was commissioned in September 1967 and is homeported in San Diego.