Leonardo da Vinci’s fighting vehicle was an armored tank-like machine driven by wheels, gears, and cranks.
Leonardo designed the vehicle in the late 15th century, probably in the context of military engineering for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Its conical armored shell was intended to protect the crew, while openings around the platform allowed mounted weapons to fire outward. Several people inside would turn cranks connected to the wheels.
The machine was not a modern tank and was never built for Renaissance warfare. Its armor and weapons were plausible in outline, but the gearing shown in surviving drawings appears to contain a problem that would prevent the vehicle from moving as intended. Some historians think this may have been deliberate, allowing Leonardo to hide the design from potential rivals.
The vehicle is commonly called Leonardo’s tank because its armored, all-terrain role resembles that of later tanks. It should not be confused with Leonardo’s self-propelled cart, which was designed for theatrical movement rather than combat.