Tank

File:Armoured Car.png

Tank

"Leonardo expects me to maneuver this thing? No instructions? Of course!"

―Ezio, upon laying eyes on the armored tank.

The Tank was a war machine developed by Leonardo da Vinci for Cesare Borgia and the Borgia forces. A precursor to the modern tank, Leonardo's armored car invention was capable of moving in any direction, and was equipped with a large number of mounted cannons. It was designed to intimidate and scatter an opposing army.

Design

The vehicle had a number of light cannons arranged on a circular platform, with wheels that allowed for 360-degree range. The entire platform was hooded by a large protective cover, reinforced with metal plates that were slanted to better deflect enemy fire. A sighting turret on top allowed the coordination of the firing of the cannons, as well as the steering of the vehicle. The machine also required three or four people to use it.

Destruction

In 1503, Leonardo tasked Ezio Auditore with finding the plans for his war machines and destroying them. Ezio then traveled to Monte Circeo, southeast of Rome, where the tank was being manufactured.

Ezio followed an engineer without being detected, until they reached the factory where the tank and other weapons were being produced. Upon interrogating the engineer, Ezio discovered that the tank design copies, and three captured mercenaries were also within the factory.

Ezio made his way through the base until he found the plans, burned them, then sought the captured mercenaries. Ezio killed the guards patrolling the area and freed the mercenaries. They were then ambushed by a larger group of guards, which Ezio and the mercenaries easily overpowered. Afterwards, the mercenaries led Ezio to a route to the tank by taking an underground tunnel system.

Ezio gazing at the Tank before destroying it.

Ezio navigated his way through the underground tunnels, opening the way for the mercenaries by unlocking gates and lowering draw bridges behind him. Soon, they encountered the war machine, and Ezio used the tank to his advantage by destroying the factory and the weapons being produced. Ezio also took on and destroyed several other working tanks as they attacked him.

After Ezio's victory in Monte Circeo, he decided to destroy the deadly war machine, as it was far too dangerous to keep, in case the Templars happened to find and retake the tank.

Trivia

• Though the tank appears in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Leonardo was historically never able to build the war machine.
• The designs of the tank had the gears deliberately positioned to render the tank unable to move. This is widely believed to have been misinformation deliberately placed by Leonardo to prevent the design being misused if it was stolen.
• To get 100% Synchronization for this mission, Ezio must first sneak into the factory without alerting the guards, then operate the tank without getting hit.
• If the Tank incurs damage, some of the cannons will become damaged and unusable, making the Tank's rate of fire slightly slower. This is because the cannons' rotating belt has to skip the damaged cannon/s until a usable cannon is aligned for firing.
• When Ezio beats up the engineer, he says the plans are on a table when they are actually pinned on a wall.
• Though the engineer tells Ezio about three mercenaries who had been captured, only two speak to and join Ezio to operate the tank. The third is seen either sleeping or dead within the prison cell.
• While only three men were required in order for Ezio to operate the tank, historically, four were required for the tank to move.
• If the production of the tanks had continued, Cesare would have used them as the centerpiece of his army during a suprise assault on Sicily.
• Just before destroying the tank, Ezio admits, "I wish I could keep you."

Gallery

thumb|400px|left|Tank

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood