alt Hacker NewsSubs in WW2 rescued survivors all the time until the US bombed a rescue operation and ended the gentleman's agreement.
https://www.beachesofnormandy.com/didyouknow/Did_you_know_wh...
There was zero threat to that American submarine, they fired on an unarmed ship that the US Navy had just held ceremonial activities with literally days prior. Absolutely disgusting behaviour but we can't expect anything less from the Americans unfortunately.
Modern subs don't run on the surface routinely like WWII subs did. Practically all they could do would be float some life boats up, but they were probably >10 nm away, so it wouldn't have been in position to deliver them promptly.