Leonardo da Vinci designed an armored tank with a conical, armored body and wheels.
The vehicle appears in Leonardo’s notebooks from the late 15th century, probably around 1487–1490. Its sloped covering was intended to deflect incoming missiles, while openings around the structure allowed a crew to fire weapons outward.
The design is often called Leonardo’s fighting vehicle rather than a modern tank. It was powered by people turning cranks connected to gears, not by an engine. Historians have also noted that the surviving drawing appears to contain a gearing problem that would prevent the vehicle from moving as shown, although this may have been deliberate or a copying error.
It was never built as a working battlefield vehicle in Leonardo’s lifetime. Modern reconstructions demonstrate the concept, but they should not be confused with an operational armored tank of the 15th century.