Leonardo da Vinci designed an armored tank with a conical, turtle-like cover.
The vehicle appears in Leonardo’s notebooks from the late 15th century. Its sloping armor was intended to protect soldiers inside while deflecting incoming projectiles. The design also included several light cannons arranged around the vehicle so it could fire in multiple directions.
The tank was intended to be moved by people turning internal cranks connected to wheels. Historians often point out that the known drawing contains a mechanical problem: some gears appear to be arranged so the vehicle could not work as shown. This may have been deliberate, accidental, or the result of later interpretation.
Leonardo’s machine was never built for battle. It was a concept developed during the Renaissance, long before powered tanks became practical in the 20th century. It is sometimes called an armored car or fighting vehicle, but “armored tank” is the standard concise description of the invention.