Elenco Armored Car - Manual (Page 9)

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Perhaps he was enticed by the challenge of making machines of war or maybe it
was simply a way to ingratiate himself to Rulers who paid his salary. Whatever the
reason, Da Vinci set about to draw plans for an improved armored car in 1485.
The vehicle was to be powered by four men situated inside the tank. These tank
operators would turn internal gears, which in turn would move the wheels of the
tank forward. The armored car was also designed with light cannons arranged on
a circular platform, providing a firing range of 360 degrees. The platform was capped
with a conical cover with a sighting turret at the top. The design, however, contained
some flaws. Even with several modifications to the original plans Da Vinci continued
to be faced with a number of unresolved problems and eventually abandoned the project.
Upon studying Da Vinci’s plans today, his instructions were clear, but it seems
that Leonardo had intentionally placed the gears of the design in reverse order, which
makes the tank unworkable. Scholars believe that he placed this misinformation in
his design as a form of security to prevent someone from stealing his design and
using the tank irresponsibly.
The Armored Car Was A Precursor
To The Military Tank
A tank is an armored vehicle designed for front-line combat. Tanks combine mobility
and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. They are fitted with firepower,
normally provided by a large-caliber main gun in a rotating turret, along with
secondary machine guns. Heavy armor and all-terrain mobility provide protection
for the tank and its crew.