Leonardo da Vinci designed an armored tank as a covered military vehicle with sloping armor and weapons.
His drawing shows a conical, turtle-like vehicle with a circular platform protected by angled plates. The design included several light cannons arranged around the vehicle, allowing defenders to fire in different directions while remaining under cover.
The machine was intended to move using manually operated wheels and gears. It was never built for battle, and historians have discussed whether the surviving design contains an intentional gear problem or a drawing error. Leonardo’s vehicle is often called a tank because its protected, mobile fighting concept resembles later armored vehicles, although it had no engine and was centuries ahead of practical tanks.