Leonardo da Vinci’s armored tank design was a covered vehicle driven by crews turning internal cranks. He sketched the machine in the late 15th century as a battlefield vehicle protected by sloping armor.
The design resembled a conical tortoise shell mounted on wheels. Several light cannons projected through openings around the vehicle, allowing it to fire in multiple directions. Leonardo’s drawings show internal mechanisms connected to the wheels, while men inside would provide the power.
The machine was never built for Renaissance warfare, and historians debate whether a deliberate gearing error in the drawing would have prevented movement. That detail has led to stories that Leonardo sabotaged the design, but the reason for the apparent mismatch is not proven. The vehicle is commonly called Leonardo’s tank because its armored, mobile form resembles a modern tank, although it lacked an engine and modern track system.