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.
The machine's cannons were 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 tank 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, and burned them. Upon finding the captured mercenaries, he killed the guards patrolling the area and freed them. They were then ambushed by a larger group of guards, though Ezio and the mercenaries easily overpowered them. Afterwards, the mercenaries led Ezio to the tank, by taking an underground tunnel system.
Ezio gazing at the tank before destroying it.
Ezio navigated his way through the underground passages, opening the way for the mercenaries by unlocking gates and lowering a drawbridge for them. Soon, they encountered the war machine, and Ezio used the tank to his advantage by destroying the factory and the other 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, should their enemies attempt to reclaim it.
Trivia
Concept Art of the Tank
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 from being misused if it was stolen.
To get full synchronization for this mission, Ezio must first sneak into the factory without alerting the guards, then operate the tank without getting hit.
Successfully using and destroying the Tank grants the player the "Kaboom!" achievement.
If the tank suffers damage, some of its cannons will become unusable, slowing the tank's rate of fire. 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 tank's 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 left 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 surprise assault on Sicily.
Just before destroying the tank, Ezio admits, "I wish I could keep you."
