Leonardo da Vinci designed an armored tank as a covered, wheeled military vehicle operated by people inside.
Leonardo sketched the machine around 1485. Its conical cover was reinforced with metal plates and shaped to deflect incoming attacks. Eight people inside would turn cranks connected to the wheels, while weapons around the perimeter could fire in several directions.
The design is often called Leonardo’s tank, although it was never built or used in battle. A famous drawing appears to contain an apparent gear error that would prevent the wheels from turning correctly. Some historians think this may have been deliberate, preserving the concept while hiding a technical detail.
The vehicle was not a modern tank: it had no engine, enclosed crew compartment, or continuous tracks. It is important because it combined armor, mobility, and all-around firepower centuries before practical tanks appeared.