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Infantry Divisions west of the city toward the Rhine at Lippstadt on 1 April. The Ruhr trap was closed, a trap which isolated about 5,000 square miles of enemy territory, including some of the most highly developed industrial area in Europe. Completely encircled by American troops, over 350,000 enemy troops, units of German Army Group D, were cut off from the supplies and reinforcements. This was one of the greatest operations of its kind in all history, and a heavy blow to the already hard pressed German army and nation.

23 March 1945
Lieutenant Colonel George G. Garton left the organization at 1725 hours on temporary duty to England. Major Walter D. McCahan assumed command of the battalion.
The battalion began displacing from position 1 mile southeast of Bottenbroich at 0725 hours. The order of march was Headquarters Battery, Battery A, Battery B, Battery C, and A trains. The battalion joined the CC "B" column and started crossing the Rhine River at 1150 hours. The battalion crossed the Rhine at Mehlem about 2,000 yards southeast of Bad Godcsberg. It took the lead vehicle five minutes to cross the 1170 foot pontoon bridge. The battalion arrived in position near Ittenbach at l220 hours and had completely closed in position by 14oo hours. The march was made without mishap.

24 March 1945
The battalion remained in position near Ittenbach during the day and continued preparations for the coming attack. At 1700 hours the battalion began displacing and by 18; 5 hours had completely closed in positions in the vicinity of Sands.
Per WO 26, Headquarters 3rd Armored Division, 24 March 1945, the 3rd Armored Division will attack 25 March combat commands abreast to seize initially the high ground in the vicinity of Altcnkirchen and successive objectives thereafter to include crossings of the Dill River between Dillenburg and Herborn. The division will by-pass pockets of resistance in order to seize the objectives quickly and will be prepared to exploit in the direction of Marburg and Frankenburg. CC "B" is to be the left flank. This battalion will be in direct support of CC "B" in the attack. The 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion will reinforce the fires of this battalion until CC "R" is committed.

25 March 1945
Task Force Welborn of CC " B " attacked at o4oo hours the attack starting at 0530 hours.and advanced during the day against moderate resistance. Heavy artillery fire was received during the day and night. The battalion displaced by battery to suppor Battery B displaced as the lead battery and closed in position southwest of Krippgierscheid. On the march one M-7 of Battery B was knocked out by a mine on the main road southwest of Uckrath. In position Battery B received light counter battery fire about 0615 hours. Major Walter D. McCahan, Battalion Commander, was lightly wounded by this fire and was evacuated. Captain Warren W. Hawley, 111, S-3, assumed temporary command of the battalion at this time. Lieutenant Colonel Lawton F. Garner, Division Artillery Commander, assumed command of the battalion at 1100 hours. The battalion closed in position with Battery B at 0830 hours. The roads leading into the battalion positions were harrassed.by artillery fire throughout the remainder of the, day.
At 1500 hours Battery A displaced as the lead battery and closed in position near Kircheib. The remainder of the battalion had closed in position with Battery A by 173 5 hours. In moving to this position along the main road and just before going into the position, all the batteries ran a Zoo yard gauntlet of fire, direct fire from a tank or anti-tank gun from across the valley. No vehicles of this battalion were hit. In this position Headquarters Battery captured 12 prisoners and Battery A captured 5.
From 1200 to 1300 hours the supply trains in position near Sands received light harassing fire. One direct hit was scored on a half-track of the attached 486th AAA Battalion. The battalion suffered no casualties as a result of this fire.

26 March 1945
Task Force Welborn attacked at 0700 hours and encountered a hasty minefield. Direct tank fire was received from the northeast. Enemy resistance consisting of tanks, SP guns, dug in infantry and artillery remained stubborn throughout the day and progress pas low. By 18oo hours the task force had advanced about 1,000 yards. Task Force Lovelady also met stubborn resistance from anti-tank guns and small arms. Air support was successfully used and the force was enabled to advance slowly. By 2100 hours leading elements had reached the town of Altenkirchen. Orders were received to move to assembly areas and CC "B" was to constitute the division reserve. CC "R" was employed this date in the late evening and the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion which had been reinforcing the fires of this battalion took over direct support of CC "R". This battalion took over observation for Task Force Lovelady.
Battery B displaced as the lead battery with the attack of Task Force Welborn at o83o hours and closed, in positions about 700 yards southeast of Kircheib. The remainder of the battalion displaced with the column and had closed in position with Battery B at 1020 hours. In the afternoon Second Lieutenant Marik was lightly wounded and evacuated. He was replaced as forward observer by Second Lieutenant Clark. In the battalion positions for the night, all battery positions received moderate counter battery fire between 2000 and 2030 hours. One enlisted man was lightly wounded but remained on duty. One of the shells exploded less than 15 yards from the battalion fire direction center. The battalion fired 18 missions this date: 4 on vehicles, 1 on tanks, 2 on rocket guns, 5 on infantry, 1 smoke concentration, 1 on a road junction, 1 on anti-tank gun, 1 on personnel, and 2 registrations. Total rounds expended this date-1158. Both rocket gun positions were neutralized; one anti-tank gun was knocked out. Five vehicles were knocked out.

27 March 1945
The battalion was notified early in the morning that it was to reinforce the fires of the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in direct