I just attacked a convoy with 3 Escort units. They detected me, but by staying at periscope depth and keeping a parallel course to a merchant ship at a distance of about 100 metres, they were not able to get me, because they did not come as close to the merchant as they would have needed to.
Is there some kind of safety distance they have to keep? And if so, can there be done something to change that? I was able to cruise for hours without being attacked by the escorts. They just circled around me and my "merchant guard".