Well it was possible to the crew the get information about speed, range and bearing of the ship. Under water you will hear more then your watch-crew is seeing.
Thats what a read Hydrophone would sound at a freighter
If you are a trained crew and know what you are doing you would get a lot of informations from this sound.
In the war diary of U-853 is written "leaving port to listen around" Page 5 24.3. 0600
Also on Page 9 "Battle Sations! low sounds of a reciprocating engine in GHG. Nothing to see... Dismiss Battlestations!"
On Page 10 is written "Hydrophone reports at 2139 °Clock bearing 90-110 degree a novel sound like from a buzz saw. Which becomes louder and soften again and also turn its pitch. Bearing is at 290 degree. I presume it is a Noise buoy"
Page 13 "Screw sounds in GHG. (120U/min) traveling fast from starboard to port side ahead. Far away. Above , nothing to see"
Modern submarines doesn't use Hydrophones anymore. The sonars are so far developed, that a Hydrophone would be out of place. Today mordern submarines are using:
passive low-frequency towed array sonar,
passive low-, and medium-frequency hull-mounted flank array sonar
mine detection sonar
Even the Periscope is using a thermal sight with laser range-finder. So no need to get information like in the old times.
The new ones can also dive more then 700meters and stay there for weeks.
The Informations are from the newest generation of german submarines "Klasse 212A"