Self-destruct
From FreeSpace Wiki
self-destruct Self destruct (Action operator) Causes the specified ship(s) to self destruct. Takes 1 or more arguments... All: Name of ship to self destruct.
The self-destruct SEXP immediately sets a ships health to zero.
This triggers the ship's destruct animation rather then making the ship disappear, if that is what you meant to do, there are better SEXPs.