"sustain an attack" is correct and usable in written English
It is used when someone is able to withstand or resist some kind of attack or criticism. For example, "The company was able to sustain the attack from their competitors in the market."
Unless it's a case where we would sustain an attack but still could counterattack, we must strike first".
Without DeRosario, United could not sustain an attack and United is forced to try and find a DeRo free solution again this week.
Some are adapting more slowly than others: Last Saturday, South Africa persisted in kicking to Australia's full-back, Israel Folau, not a smart tactic in itself, rather than trusting themselves to sustain an attack.
Western military experts said that China lacked the ability to invade Taiwan or sustain an attack on the island and that its large but semimodern military was vastly outclassed by American forces.
But the Americans could not sustain an attack in the second half and failed to score for the first time in 17 matches since a scoreless tie against Germany last Jan.
Labour might not have much vim left, but if it can't sustain an attack on this terrain, then maybe Blair was right, and they should not be in politics at all.
It gives England the opportunity to use their seamers in short spells if they wish and to sustain an attacking position.
There you're not talking about sustaining an attack and losing hundreds or a few thousand.
Before the low blow, Holyfield had finally sustained an attack in the ninth round with several left hooks and jabs that kept Ruiz off balance.
It was badly damaged by action from English ships in 1406 and sustained an attack by John of Islay, the Lord of the Isles in 1455.
Reviewers said that changes to combat punished more than challenged; greater enemy numbers and variety made sustaining an attack difficult, and (combined with an array of gadgets which hindered rather than damaged enemies) made encounters long and repetitive.
