I suppose the AMX-30 would count more in line with a tank destroyer than a full-up tank, considering the design decisions made in the era. Top tier gun, make it fast, and make it light since armor's not really worth it (in 1960) against modern antitank rounds. Even something 20 tons heavier, like the Pattons, were still vulnerable even on the bow to heavy duty HEAT sounds, since this was before the development of composite armor and ERA options. So they built a 36 ton tank with only a couple inches of armor, though given decent slope.
Now, I've always liked the thing, and I've been reading up on all the modernization it can do - and something struck me as a terribly wonderful idea, or perhaps a wonderfully terrible one. The original 30s were designed with a 680hp engine, while the AMX-30E upgraded by the Spanish went with an 850hp engine in the same hull, and a transmission that can take a throughput up of to 1500.
I did a little digging, and the modern MTU engines that were swapped in actually make that level of horsepower now. While they're in use in small numbers in a few countries, I wonder just how far you could really push that engine. Maybe even be nice to the transmission and only go for 12-1300hp in it, just to get an exceptionally fast tank that still has good fuel economy. At a power-weight ratio of 32.8hp/ton, just what kind of nutty speeds could you be looking at for a fast "raider" tank?
