Tank
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- "Leonardo expects me to maneuver this thing? No instructions? Of course!"
- ―Ezio, upon laying eyes on the armored tank.
The armored car (often rendered simply as Tank) was a war machine developed by Leonardo da Vinci, usable by Ezio Auditore in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. 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 weapons. It was designed to intimidate and scatter an opposing army.
Da Vinci's vehicle had a number of light cannons arranged on a circular platform, with wheels that allowed for 360-degree range. The platform is hooded by a large protected cover reinforced with metal plates, which are slanted to better deflect enemy fire. There is a sighting turret on top to coordinate the firing of cannons and steering of the vehicle. The machine also required three or four people to use it.
In 1503, Leonardo was forced to create designs for the armored car by Cesare Borgia, and he subsequently tasked Ezio Auditore with finding the plans and destroying them. Ezio then traveled to Monte Circeo, southeast of Rome. Ezio had to follow an engineer without being detected; once the engineer entered the factory where the weapons were being produced, Ezio found a secret entrance to the factory and interrogated the engineer, who told Ezio of the armored car design copies and three captured mercenaries.
Ezio made his way through the factory 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 lead Ezio to a route to the tank by taking an underground tunnel system. 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.
- 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 the architect tells Ezio about 3 soldiers that have been captured, only 2 soldiers speak to and join Ezio to locate and operate the tank. The third soldier 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 issued a suprise assault on Sicily.
- Just before destroying the tank, Ezio admits, "I wish I could keep you."