From most things I have read its seems that skippers felt pretty confident that they could either sneak at low speeds with diesels running(maybe only one going) or by using the electric motors.Like you said seems they felt confident that the own convoys noise would mask the subs engines.
I think some are thinking of two different things here though one being the concern that ones diesels might be heard the others are talking about the sounds of the screws and shaft components.The later would not be very relevant while running on the surface as any enemy hydrophones would not be able to listen to screws of anything running on the surface(I know the subs gear can in game but that is inaccurate) such as a sub running on the surface that was one reason why this was used in the first place because it was easier to get in close on the surface where they would not be able to use hydrophones on you.And at night on a moonless eve a sub could get pretty close in and have a very high chance of not being spotted until after striking and staring his escape some times the IJN not even realizing that the sub had struck on the surface and getting thrown a total curve ball.And the tactic can work in the game as well.
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