Continuity mistake: When the chopper carrying the soldier with the wounded back takes off, the sky is cloudy and, even accounting for the poor quality of the film, the weather looks very dull. The shot changes to show Radar, Hawkeye and Margaret watching the chopper leave and it is now bright sunshine. (00:44:20)
Continuity mistake: At lunch, when Frank is getting his own back against Hawkeye, in the long shots of the table the plate of bread is beside Henry and in the closeups it is in front of Trapper. (00:11:30)
Continuity mistake: When Jack delivers the patient to the MASH and when he is taking photos of the operation, there is no wound on his right hand. It only appears when Col.Potter says that he treated it "months ago". (00:04:30)
Continuity mistake: When Maj. Winchester hears that the Giants won, he drops his baseball cap. A few shots later we see him lying on his back, clasping his cap in his hand.
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye gets into the chow line and Igor suggests the peas and carrots, Hawkeye asks about the beans. As the peas and carrots are being scooped to be served to Hawkeye, he grabs Igor's arm and peas and carrots are spilled into the beans. Peas are VERY visible in the beans. The next shot with the beans, the peas and carrots have been removed from the beans.
Continuity mistake: Charles enters Col. Potter's quarters while Potter is sleeping. Potter sits up in bed while Charles whines and complains about his sister's engagement. In all the shots facing Potter, the hair at the top of his head is very messy and pointing up. In every shot facing Charles, Potter's hair is normal.
Continuity mistake: After Radar calls assembly, Potter starts to address the personnel. Accounting for Hawkeye, BJ, and Margaret in Surgery, there are only thirty-three people there. In the episode "Dear Ma" (S4: Ep 17), Radar wrote that there were almost two hundred people there.
Continuity mistake: In the mess tent, Hawkeye is attempting to get the reporter to focus on BJ instead of him by telling the guy about the defibrillator made by BJ to save a life in the O.R. As Hawkeye is making his point, the reporter is putting a sheet of paper into a folder on his typewriter case. After the camera cuts to a close up of the reporter saying his next line, he's putting the paper into the folder again.
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye hits on the nurse after Charlie's first flyover, his beach chair instantly folds itself up. (00:06:40)
Continuity mistake: In the assembly called by Major Burns at the beginning of the show, Klinger is in the front rank far left (except when the continuity error has him centre rear), but after the appearance of Hawkeye in the rickshaw Klinger isn't on parade at all.
Continuity mistake: During the shelling on the road, BJ gets very muddy. When they get to the bar, he is much cleaner - e.g. all the mud has disappeared from his right arm. (00:44:30)
The Sniper - S2-E10
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye is preparing to go for his picnic, Radar brings him some brandy from Col. Blake. There is only a small amount of brandy in the bottle, which is commented on. Radar takes a jug of martini from the still to top up the bottle, but this is not done and the jug of martini remains on top of the stove untouched. When the picnic scene takes place, the brandy bottle is now nearly full with the brandy/martini mix. (00:10:00)
Continuity mistake: When Klinger imposes himself between Oksun Li and Crosetti, he puts his hands on his hips. When Crosetti gets up, Klinger gestures with his hands which then drop down on either side. A split-second later they're on his hips again.
Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen - S11-E16
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye is returning to camp, he and his driver completely pass some Burma-Shave signs the other have set up to welcome him back. An ambulance bus is a few feet behind them and manages to then suddenly appear at least 30 feet behind them to smash all the signs.
The General Flipped at Dawn - S3-E1
Continuity mistake: As the chopper lands on the pad, and the ambulance comes up, the pilot is as two different men when Hawkeye and Trapper approach and arrive at the chopper, meaning the landing was stock footage.
Deal Me Out - S2-E13
Continuity mistake: From behind, Klinger's cigar is full length, with no signs of being lit. When he responds to Hawkeye's question, it is noticeably shorter.
Continuity mistake: When the pit boss is taking the rolled up 5 containing the pair of dice out of his pocket, his fingers are hiding the end toward Mulcahy. When the camera angle changes, the fingers are moved so Mulcahy can see the hidden dice.
Change Day - S6-E8
Continuity mistake: From the back, while denying Charles entry, the whistle Klinger has on flips over his left shoulder. A moment later, as Hawkeye and BJ walk up, the whistle is in front.
Continuity mistake: In Henry's office, Burns tosses the stapler toward Radar, and it flips midair. When it falls Ito the file Radar has, it flies level, that is, not twisting in the air.
Continuity mistake: As Hawkeye and Trapper leave the Swamp to watch 5 O'Clock Charlie, Hawkeye is carrying a folding chair, and Trapper has the thermos and glasses. At the show, they both have folding chairs.
Answer: Even an Army field hospital would have SOME weapons for self-defense if the enemy attacked. What's meant is that it's not a combat outfit, and therefore wouldn't have enough weapons to actually attack anyone. (It's also mentioned a few times that the Officer of the Watch is supposed to carry a pistol at all times, but Hawkeye refuses to do it when he's in charge and Colonels Blake and Potter don't enforce the rule).
Captain Defenestrator