Da Vinci’s Tank

Conceptually, the idea of ​​a covered wagon (as Leonardo calls it), capable of containing offensive weapons inside, is very ancient. In this, as with his other ideas, the Tuscan genius is concerned with proposing an idea capable of surprising.

His is a project for a weapon that no one had ever even imagined and capable of sowing terror among enemies. However, Leonardo does not offer us very detailed elements, as if he realized the enormous difficulties in making such a weapon operational and, therefore, reduces everything to two images: the one showing the terrifying impact of the many cannons mounted on the 360º of the circular structure; and the one that offers a cross-section of the internal part with the possible mechanism to make it move.

There are no measurements or references other than the cannons, as if we wanted to make it clear that the project was the basis for building a more or less large weapon. In fact, the problem, of which Leonardo was certainly aware, is that the more effective one wants to make it, the greater the number of cannons will have to be, consequently the structure of the wagon will be larger and, therefore, more difficult to maneuver and move. In Leonardo’s drawing there are no fewer than 36 cannons, we have foreseen 10.