Leonardo da Vinci designed his armored vehicle to resemble a tortoise.
Leonardo drew the fighting vehicle in the 1480s as a low, conical machine covered by protective armor. Its sloping outer shell was intended to deflect attacks, giving the vehicle a tortoise-like appearance. The design included space for a crew and weapons around its perimeter.
The vehicle was supposed to move using several cranks connected to wheels. Modern reconstructions have noted that the mechanism shown in Leonardo’s drawing would not work as intended because of a gear arrangement, possibly caused by an intentional flaw or a drafting error.
The vehicle was never built for Renaissance warfare. Leonardo prepared the design while seeking patronage from Ludovico Sforza, ruler of Milan, and presented himself as an engineer capable of designing military machines. The concept is sometimes called Leonardo’s tank, although it was not a modern tank and had no engine or turret.