Perception is everything! Following LGN1's lead, I checked the Lost Contact Time settings. Here's what they actually are:

Stock = 15 min
GWX 3.0 = 30 min
NYGM = 40 min

BUT, if you use SH3 Commander, that program changes Lost Contact Time to a random value between 15 and 45 minutes. It does so every time you restart SH3 from Commander, even in midpatrol.

Rgr that.

I didn't know that about Commander. Since my game is set at 40 minutes, I changed the Commander file to 40 min - 90 min. Make it a little more interesting.

SH3 Commander/Cfg/Randomised events.cfg

Open in Notepad. Second block of entries (visible when you open the file) is headed "THERMAL LAYERS." Like most Commander features, it's pretty much self-documenting. (Shoutout to JSCones!)