vecvechookattack
yes, it did have the capability, but often meant tying up 4 Lynx for an attack on one vessel, and the survivability rate of those A/C given the manoeuvring parameters whilst the Skua was in flight would have been pretty poor. i.e. lose a large proportion of air assets to take out one ship. (though in war, sometimes needs must). As you say; it was a capability and as such, had to be written up in the manuals, but it was not very practical!!
Pontius navigator -
it's the ability of the soviet warships to defend themselves that was the problem, not their thickness of metal, especially as to have a successfull missile run, the Lynx ws severely limited in its ability to move, and also had to have radar lock throughout!