2MTF. HI observations of 303 southern galaxies

Using the 64-m Parkes radio telescope multibeam system we obtain 152 high signal to noise ratio HI spectra from which we extract 148 high-accuracy (<5% error) velocity widths and derive reliable rotation velocities. The observed sample consists of 303 southern ({delta}<-40{deg}) galaxies selected from the 2MASS Redshift Survey with Ks<11.25mag, cz<10000km/s and axis ratio b/a<0.5.

The HI observations reported in this paper will be combined with new HI spectra from the Green Bank and Arecibo telescopes, together producing the most uniform Tully-Fisher survey ever constructed (in terms of sky coverage). In particular, due to its near-infrared selection, 2MTF will be significantly more complete at low Galactic latitude (|b|<15{deg}) and will provide a more reliable map of peculiar velocities in the local Universe.