Internal kinematics of spiral galaxies in distant clusters -: II.: Observations and data analysis

We have conducted an observing campaign with the FORS instruments at the ESO-Very Large Telescope to explore the kinematical properties of spiral galaxies in distant galaxy clusters. Our main goal is to analyse transformation - and interaction processes of disk galaxies within the special environment of clusters as compared to the hierarchical evolution of galaxies in the field. Spatially resolved multi object spectra have been obtained for seven galaxy clusters at 0.3 < z < 0.6 to measure rotation velocities of cluster members. For three of the clusters, Cl 0303+17, Cl 0413-65, and MS 1008-12, for which we presented results including a Tully-Fisher-diagram in Ziegler et al. (2003), we describe here in detail the sample selection, observations, data reduction, and data analysis. Each of them was observed with two setups of the standard MOS-unit of FORS. With typical exposure times of >2 h we reach an S/N > 5 in the emission lines appropriate for the deduction of the galaxies' internal rotation velocities from [OII], H(beta), or [OIII] emission line profiles. Preselection of targets was done on the basis of available redshifts as well as from photometric and morphological information gathered from own observations, archive data, and from the literature. Emphasis was laid on the definition of suitable setups to avoid the typical restrictions of the standard MOS unit for this kind of observations. In total we assembled spectra of 116 objects of which 50 turned out to be cluster members. Position velocity diagrams, finding charts for each setup as well as tables with photometric, spectral, and structural parameters of individual galaxies are presented.